NFA Rice Set for Sale to Metro Manila Government Agencies in February

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday that National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks could be available for purchase by local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies in Metro Manila starting February. This decision follows the National Price Coordinating Council’s (NPCC) approval of a resolution encouraging the DA to declare a food security emergency for rice. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. mentioned in an interview that the rice would be sold at PHP36 per kilogram to LGUs and other government entities, who could then retail it at PHP38 per kilogram. The NFA currently holds nearly 300,000 metric tons of rice in its warehouses, and even newly procured rice can be sold under the emergency declaration. Tiu Laurel also hinted at a potential price drop to PHP33 per kilogram in March, allowing LGUs to sell it to consumers at PHP35 per kilogram. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora expressed optimism about the price accessibility, awaiting the DA’s guidelines for implementation. Under the Rice Tariffication Law, NFA’s sales to the public are limited to aging stocks, distributed through the DA’s P29 program for vulnerable sectors. Tiu Laurel emphasized that the DA’s focus on NFA rice sales is to benefit consumers and farmers, not to be exploited for political gain in the upcoming midterm elections. He stressed the importance of maintaining profitability for rice farmers, with NFA’s initial buying price for palay set between PHP21 to PHP23 per kilogram. In 2024, NFA achieved significant palay procurement with buying prices ranging from PHP17 to PHP30 per kilogram, depending on the condition of the palay.