NFA to Distribute Aging Rice Stocks to Local Governments Starting February 19

MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) announced plans to begin distributing its two-month-old rice stocks to various local government units (LGUs) starting Wednesday, as part of a food security emergency initiative. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson confirmed via text message that the initial recipients will include San Juan, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Camarines Sur. The rice, nearing its aging period, will be sold to these LGUs through the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) at a price of PHP33 per kilogram. Subsequently, these LGUs, along with other government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), are permitted to sell the rice to the public at PHP35 per kilogram. This move by the NFA is intended to lower market prices by increasing the availability of affordable rice and to clear space in NFA warehouses for the procurement of palay from local farmers. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has set a goal to sell 150,000 metric tons of NFA rice stocks over the next six months. As of January, the NFA had a stockpile of 284,810 metric tons of rice, a significant increase of 485.1 percent from the 48,680 metric tons recorded in January 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.