DA to buy white corn in 2026 as rice substitute, aims to reduce demand

The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to purchase white corn in 2026 as a supplement to its rice supply, aiming to reduce demand for rice.

During an interview on Tuesday, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the agency aims to buy white corn with some volume of yellow corn included, emphasizing it as a good substitute or alternative for rice.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the resumption of corn buying by the National Food Authority (NFA), which is under the DA, during a dialogue with Gawad Saka awardees in Nueva Ecija on Monday.

The budget request for this acquisition is included in the DA's General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2026 with an initial funding of P500 million to P1 billion.

Corn grits, locally known as bigas mais, are a coarsely-ground form of dried corn kernels used in various dishes and preferred by some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The NFA plans to open Kadiwa Stores for the rollout of the P20-per-kilo rice grains, targeting nationwide implementation by 2026. The NFA has 134 newly refurbished warehouses ready to cater to incoming corn supply from local farmers alongside expected stock levels of rice.