Manila, July 3 -- Malacanang on Thursday warned rice traders against exploiting the government's PHP20 per kg. rice program to justify lowering their buying price of palay (unhusked rice), urging farmers to report any abusive practices to authorities.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said reports have reached the Department of Agriculture (DA) that some traders are citing the "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!" (BBM Na) program to buy palay at unfairly low prices from farmers.

She urged farmers who experience such abuse to report directly to the DA, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), or the Department of Justice (DOJ), assuring them that the government will take legal action.

"Sabihin lamang po sa amin sa DA, sa DILG, sa ...