The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday released National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks to local government units (LGUs) as a strategic food security emergency measure to stabilize rice prices and ensure affordable supply for consumers.
Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the transfer of rice supplies to San Juan City mayor Francisco Javier Zamora, who also serves as president of the Metro Manila Council. The ceremony, held at the NFA warehouse in Valenzuela City, marked the start of a program seen significantly impacting rice affordability across the country.
The NFA sells rice to LGUs at P33 per kilogram that then retails them at P35 per kilogram to consumers. Although stocks are not expected to be available until next week, NFA has received 67 letters of intent from various LGUs eager to participate in the program.
As part of efforts to ease the burden on consumers, NFA plans to release approximately 25,000 metric tons of rice a month during the emergency period. Should demand soar, the agency is prepared to scale up supply.
To ensure swift implementation, Tiu Laurel emphasized the importance of coordination between LGUs and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), which will provide 30-day credit terms for rice purchases. This will eliminate delays typically caused by lengthy procurement processes.
The San Juan LGU is prepared to shoulder the logistics costs to deliver the rice to local communities at the designated price. Mayor Zamora also announced plans to introduce a pre-registration system for consumers to prevent reselling and ensure that legitimate buyers benefit from the program.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte voiced his support for the initiative, noting that farmers—who are also consumers—stand to benefit from the availability of cheaper rice. Villafuerte’s province, a major rice producer, is set to participate in the distribution program.
Tiu Laurel said the initiative is just the beginning, noting the P9 billion allocated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the NFA rice procurement this year. The funds, combined with carryover money from last year’s record purchases, will allow the agency to buy more palay from farmers, helping stabilize the local rice market.
In addition to providing more affordable rice, the NFA program also aims to free up storage space for the upcoming rice harvest. Last year, the NFA increased its palay procurement price that now ranges from P23 to P30 per kg. for clean, dry palay, and P17 per kg. for wet palay—an effort that will benefit farmers across the country.
As of recent market monitoring, the price for local well-milled rice in the National Capital Region ranges from P40 to P54 per kg. while imported varieties sold for slightly less. Special and premium local rice varieties were priced higher, underscoring the significance of the NFA’s initiative to provide more affordable options for consumers nationwide.
This effort not only aims to control inflation but also ensures the government’s economic policies align with its commitment to food security and sustainable agricultural practices.
