Tulfo calls for NFA mandate to buy palay and sell cheap rice

Senatorial candidate ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is calling for the restoration of the National Food Authority's (NFA) mandate to purchase palay from local farmers and sell rice at lower prices.

Tulfo argues that this would ensure Filipinos have access to affordable rice throughout the year, as the current system allows rice traders to control farmgate prices and manipulate market rates.

He adds that since the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) was enacted in 2019, the NFA's role has been limited to securing buffer stocks and releasing them only upon a Food Security Emergency declaration by the Department of Agriculture (DA), which has not effectively addressed supply issues.

Tulfo vows to prioritize amending the RTL if elected to the Senate, aiming to restore the NFA’s power to buy palay from local farmers and sell rice at more affordable prices.

The lawmaker emphasizes that it's crucial to also restore approximately 15,000 accredited rice retailers nationwide to expand the reach of affordable NFA rice across the country.