NFA implements stricter palay procurement rules

The National Food Authority (NFA) has implemented stricter rules for palay procurement to ensure transparency and benefit local farmers.

Administrator Larry Lacson stated that the new rules aim to address concerns about traders benefiting from NFA's procurement process instead of farmers, and are considering limiting purchases to 100 bags per planting season to reach more farmers.

Under these rules, only registered farmers or those with a certificate from their local government can sell up to 100 bags of palay per harvest season or 200 bags annually.

Each NFA branch must submit a monthly list of who sold palay and how much for public display at the branch, and tables will be set up in NFA warehouses so farmers can check transactions.

Farmers' groups are allowed to observe the buying process, which is also logged daily in Google Sheets by region and warehouse.

Violators, including both traders and NFA personnel, will face sanctions such as blacklisting or dismissal from service.