NFA releases two-month-old rice stocks to LGUs amid food emergency

The National Food Authority (NFA) has begun releasing its two-month-old stocks of well-milled rice to local government units (LGUs) following the declaration of a national food security emergency on rice.

On Wednesday, February 19, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led an event at the NFA warehouse in Valenzuela City, where the first batch of sacks was turned over to select LGUs including San Juan and Navotas, with Mayor Francis Zamora of San Juan participating as he heads the Metro Manila Council.

Fifty more LGUs have expressed their intent to participate in the program, bringing the total number of participating LGUs to fifty-three. The NFA plans to release 25,000 metric tons of rice per month from its total stock of 300,000 metric tons, though this volume may increase if necessary.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will oversee the selling of rice through state-owned Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI), and LGUs are encouraged to sell the purchased NFA rice at PHP33/kg without markup as announced by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.

With P9 billion allocated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for rice procurement this year, the NFA aims to buy more palay from local farmers and cooperatives to replenish buffer stocks used for relief operations and food security emergencies.