LAOAG CITY, Oct. 21 -- The National Food Authority (NFA) in Ilocos Norte has increased the buying price for clean and dry palay (unhusked rice) to as much as PHP30 per kilogram to help increase farmers' income amid rising production costs and encourage more rice growers to sell their harvest to the government.

The higher procurement price is effective Oct. 19 to 25, 2026, covering the food agency's buying stations in Candon City and the municipality of Santa in Ilocos Sur, as well as the warehouses in Barangay Saludares, Dingras and Sta. Joaquina in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

"This is part of the agency's efforts to strengthen local rice production, provide farmers with better returns and maintain adequate rice buffer stocks for food se...