Duterte okays rice seed procurement exemption

President Rodrigo Duterte has allowed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to exempt the procurement of hybrid rice seeds from public bidding, a move seen to boost farm productivity and prevent government funds from being wasted.

He directed the DA to permit farmers to indicate which seeds they prefer for their area in a manifesto, so it would have basis to avoid the usual procurement process, in which the company with the lowest bid among those vying to supply these seeds wins the contract.