DA: NFA rice to be sold to Metro Manila LGUs in Feb.

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

NFA RICE. File photo of a National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday (Jan. 16, 2025) said NFA rice, even those not yet aging, may be sold to local government units and government agencies in Metro Manila once a food security emergency for rice is declared. (Photo courtesy of NFA)

MANILA – National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks may be sold to local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies in Metro Manila starting in February, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

The DA made the statement after the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) approved a resolution urging the agency to declare a food security emergency for rice.

“Ang target natin ibebenta, assuming ma-approve iyan ng January or February (Assuming it will be approved by January or February, we target to sell it), we will sell it at PHP36 (per kilogram) to the LGU, to other GOCCs (Government-owned and controlled corporations), AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), PNP (Philippine National Police), so maibenta nila iyan (so they can sell it) at PHP38,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an ambush interview.

To date, the NFA has almost 300,000 metric tons of rice stock in its warehouses.

Moreover, the rice stocks, even those that are not yet aging, can be sold under the food security emergency.

“Kapag nag-ano tayo ng emergency, kahit yung binili kahapon, basta mapa-mill namin, pwede na namin ibenta (Once we declare an emergency, even those which was procured yesterday, as long as it’s milled, it can be sold right away),” Tiu Laurel said.

The price may even drop to PHP33/kg. in March so the LGUs can sell it to consumers at PHP35/kg., he said.

“Kung magkakaroon po tayo ng access sa ganyang presyo, sigurado pong maraming matutuwa. So, hinihintay lang po namin iyong pinaka-guidelines ng Department of Agriculture para maging tama po ang implementation namin (If we will have access to such price, for sure many will be glad. So, we will just wait for the guidelines of the Department of Agriculture for our proper implementation),” San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said during the council meeting of Metro Manila mayors with the DA.

Under the Rice Tariffication Law, the NFA cannot sell rice to the public except for the aging or three-month-old stocks which are released through the DA’s P29 program for the vulnerable sector, including the members of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents.

No politicking

Tiu Laurel, meanwhile, stressed that the main focus of DA on NFA rice sales is to benefit more consumers and farmers, and should not be used by politicians for the upcoming midterm elections.

“It may not happen (politicking), but hindi naman iyon ang objective ng DA. Ang objective ng DA is ma-dispose namin yung stocks para makabili kami sa mga farmers na talagang nangangailangan na mabili namin yung palay nila (but that’s not the objective of DA. The DA’s objective is to release the stocks so we can procure more from farmers who really need to sell their palay [unhusked rice]),” he said.

“Napaka-importante na (It’s very important that) we have to keep our rice farmers profitable.”

He said NFA’s initial buying price for palay may range from at least PHP21/kg. to PHP23/kg.

The NFA’s historic palay procurement, meanwhile, was achieved under its higher palay (unhusked rice) buying price scheme in 2024, which ranged from PHP17/kg. to PHP23/kg. for fresh or wet palay; and PHP23/kg. to PHP30/kg. for clean and dry palay.