DA eyes P1B budget for corn procurement as rice substitute

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to procure white and yellow corn in the second quarter of 2026 to serve as a substitute for rice.

The National Food Authority (NFA) will be responsible for the corn procurement, with an initial target of 118,000 50-kg bags across five pilot regions.

Cagayan Valley is expected to supply the largest volume of corn, followed by Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, BARMM, and Ilocos.

The DA has requested a budget of P500 million to P1 billion for this initiative to be included in the 2026 national budget.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson mentioned that strategies for the release of procured corn are still being studied, emphasizing a need for fast turnover.

Yellow corn is expected to be disposed of within two weeks of procurement, while white corn will be milled.