The National Food Authority (NFA) is setting its sights on rebuilding trust and extending its reach to more Filipinos this Christmas season. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson shared these aspirations in a video message released on December 24, 2024, emphasizing the agency’s desire to assist more Filipinos and farmers by making NFA rice available to the public once again.
Lacson’s message highlighted the NFA’s goal to become more meaningful to every Filipino by resuming rice sales in the market. This move, he believes, will not only help consumers but also support local farmers. The NFA’s role was curtailed by the Rice Tariffication Law of 2019, limiting its activities to procuring local palay for national rice buffer stock during emergencies.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has also advocated for the NFA to regain its authority to sell rice, aiming to stabilize retail prices and increase availability to consumers. As of December 20, rice prices in Metro Manila varied from PHP40 to PHP56 per kilogram for both imported and local varieties.
Lacson praised the NFA staff for their dedication and resilience throughout 2024, despite facing numerous challenges. He noted their collective efforts during the NFA’s year-end review on December 19, underscoring the importance of their unity and hard work to the agency’s achievements.
The NFA’s latest report shows a significant increase in palay procurement, with 1,056,810 bags, or 52,840.5 metric tons, acquired from local farmers in the third quarter of 2024. This represents a 578.46 percent rise compared to the same period in the previous year, when 155,766 bags, or 7,788.3 metric tons, were procured.