THE Department of Agriculture (DA) started on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the release of rice stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA) to local government units (LGUs), Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
Laurel led the ceremonial releasing of rice stocks at the NFA warehouse in Valenzuela, handing over rice supplies to San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier Zamora, who also serves as president of the Metro Manila Council and chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council.
The release of the NFA’s buffer rice stocks was triggered by the declaration of a food security emergency on rice amid the “extraordinary” increase in prices of grains, which has persisted despite lower global market costs and a reduction in tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent in July.
The NFA planned to release around 25,000 metric tons a month during the food security emergency, but the volume could still be increased if needed.
These rice grains are expected to be sold by LGUs, government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites at P35 per kilo.
“This is just the beginning. We expect more local government units to participate in this effort, which will benefit not only Filipino consumers but also rice farmers,” said Laurel.
“With the P9 billion allocated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for NFA’s rice procurement this year, and the remaining funds from last year’s record purchases, we aim to buy even more palay from farmers,” he added.
Under the DA’s Circular No. 4, a total of 625,600 bags of NFA rice stocks were reserved for distribution due to the food security emergency declaration.
Metro Manila, Cavite and Rizal will get the biggest chunk of the allocation with 293,000 bags in total followed by Western and Central Visayas with 58,000 and 50,000, respectively.
In 2024, the NFA Council raised the palay procurement price range to P23 to P30 per kilo for clean and dry rice and P17 per kilo for wet palay.
Previously, palay buying prices ranged from P16 to P23 per kilo. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)