DESPITE widespread flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains and back-to-back storms, the National Food Authority (NFA) has reported no damage to its rice buffer stocks nationwide, Malacañang said Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
“Nationwide, wala pong na-danyos na stocks at ang NFA ay ready anytime to release stocks to requesting LGUs (local government units) and relief agencies,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
(Nationwide, no stocks were damaged, and the NFA is ready at any time to release rice to requesting LGUs and relief agencies.)
Castro made the assurance following concerns over warehouse sites in flood-hit areas like Occidental Mindoro and Valenzuela City.
Both host major NFA storage facilities but have reported no losses or spoilage.
Citing NFA administrators, Castro added that the country's buffer stock is secure and sufficient to last at least 12 days.
“Super-secure in terms of buffer stock ang NFA at meron po tayong enough stocks to last for 12 days. Buong Pilipinas po ay makakakain,” Castro said.
(The buffer stock is very secure, and we have enough rice to last for 12 days. The entire country will have food to eat.)
The reassurance comes as Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the southwest monsoon have inundated parts of Luzon, including key logistics zones.
The monsoon is currently being further enhanced by Tropical Storm Dante and Tropical Depression Emong, which are expected to bring more rains to Luzon and parts of Visayas through Monday. (JGS/SunStar Philippines)