NFA to sell 500K sacks of rice in Metro Manila at PHP36/kg starting Feb

The National Food Authority (NFA) plans to sell approximately 500,000 sacks of rice in Metro Manila through local government units starting February at PHP36 per kilogram.

Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa and NFA Administrator Larry Lacson explained that the rice can be sold before it reaches the aging category under the Rice Tariffication Law, with recent amendments to RA 298 allowing disposal of rice reaching two months.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has asked Metro Manila mayors to allow Kadiwa stores in public and private markets for NFA rice sales beginning at PHP36/kg in February, potentially dropping to PHP33/kg by March.

Metro Manila LGUs can sell the NFA rice at PHP36/kg or PHP38/kg depending on the emergency status declared by DA, with no policy preventing them from distributing it for free as aid.

The program aims to create warehouse space ahead of the upcoming palay harvest, addressing full stock issues without compromising sufficiency and quality.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured that NFA has 300,000 tons of rice available for release and emphasized that distribution is not political but an urgent mission to free up warehouses.