The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines is set to declare a food security emergency for rice in the first week of February. This decision comes after a slight delay in receiving the official resolution from the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC). DA Spokesperson Arnel de Mesa mentioned that the department expects to receive the resolution within two working days, followed by an additional two days for due diligence before the declaration can be made.
Under the emergency declaration, the National Food Authority (NFA) will be authorized to sell its rice stocks, including those not yet aging, to local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) at a price of PHP36 per kilogram. These stocks will then be available to consumers at a maximum price of PHP38 per kilogram.
This initiative aims to clear space in NFA warehouses for new rice stocks and support local farmers through the agency’s palay procurement program during the upcoming harvest season. De Mesa confirmed that the NFA is well-prepared for the disposal of its rice stocks.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced plans to sell NFA rice nationwide, starting with select LGUs near NFA warehouses. LGUs can now reserve their desired volume, with deliveries scheduled to begin on either February 7 or 15. Initial target areas for these sales include Metro Manila, Laguna, and the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, which can also supply rice to Cebu.
De Mesa also hinted at the possibility of another food security emergency declaration to facilitate the release of new palay procurement for the next harvest season, which would help maintain a 15-day national buffer stock. He suggested that reinstating the NFA’s market intervention capabilities without needing an emergency declaration would be the most effective approach to ensure regular procurement.