By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government, which intends to begin purchasing local palay, or rice, next month, will be transacting through the Community Multipurpose Cooperative, or Capgem.
“The province cannot directly buy from the farmers,” Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson explained. “It has to be from the accredited cooperative.”
The governor pointed out, after the Provincial Board approved the P6 million supplemental budget for palay procurement, it needs to be published in order for buying to commence in October.
The purchase is being conducted in response to the Department of Agriculture calling on local government units to assist farmers amid reportedly low price for locally-produced palay./DGB, WDJ