In Malasiqui, Pangasinan, the National Food Authority (NFA) has set an ambitious goal to purchase 500,000 bags of palay, each weighing 50 kilos, throughout 2025. Cherry Ann Soriano, the supervising grains officer for NFA Eastern Pangasinan, shared in a recent interview that they anticipate acquiring approximately 165,000 bags between March and June alone. Soriano emphasized the competitive nature of their procurement prices, expressing optimism about sourcing directly from farmers. As of the end of January, the procurement prices for palay were between PHP18 and PHP23 per kilo for wet palay, and PHP23 to PHP30 for dry palay, with adjustments made according to farmgate prices. Reflecting on last year’s success, where they surpassed their target by procuring 539,111 bags, Soriano remains confident in meeting this year’s goal. The NFA is also working closely with local government units to facilitate these purchases. Frederick Dulay, assistant manager at NFA-Eastern Pangasinan, reassured the public of sufficient rice supplies in the province, even in the face of potential calamities. He highlighted measures taken to counteract the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, including early planting advisories and the provision of water pumps and solar-powered irrigation systems. As of early February, the region holds a stock of 459,388 bags of palay and 26,203 bags of rice, equating to 315,617 bags of rice, enough to meet the province’s needs for 13 days.
