Manila, May 21 -- National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson on Wednesday ordered the buying of palay (unhusked rice) in areas where traders purchase rice from farmers at very low prices.

This came after the Department of Agriculture (DA) started investigating alleged unscrupulous traders who may have taken advantage of local rice farmers amid the peak dry harvest season, with prices below PHP15 per kilogram.

In a Viber message, Lacson said they are exploring ways to secure the remaining harvest in affected areas.

"Pinapupuntahan ko sa mga tao ko sa regions, tapos ginagawan ng paraan na mabili (I have instructed my regional personnel to go there, and then they're doing efforts to buy)," he told the Philippine News Agency....