By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
The National Food Authority (NFA) will release aging rice stocks to local government units (LGUs) as part of efforts to stabilize retail prices under the food security emergency declared by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on February 3, 2025.
NFA-Western Visayas regional manager Jasmin Lintag told Bombo Radyo Iloilo that the buffer stock includes regular rice, about-to-age rice, and aging rice.
Monthly allocations have been set, including 7,500 bags for Iloilo City and 42,500 bags for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.
This is separate from the 922,000 bags of rice and 37,000 bags of milled rice stored in 21 NFA warehouses, which are reserved for calamities and other emergencies.
“In turn, the LGU will make the rice available to their constituents. The goal of this is to scale down rice retail prices,” Lintag said.
She said the NFA has already reached out to LGUs, including the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod and 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental, to encourage their participation in the program.
Allocations from LGUs unwilling to distribute NFA rice may be transferred to those willing to do so.
“We asked them that should there be a food security emergency, would they be interested in joining us and purchasing NFA rice for their identified constituents?” Lintag said.
LGUs will be encouraged to sell the rice at PHP 36 per kilogram, though they may apply a small markup to cover additional costs.
“When we send our invitation letters to governors and mayors, we will encourage them to sell the rice at PHP 36 per kilo to the public,” she said.
“However, they may include a minimal markup to cover mobilization costs, but it should not be too high, as it would defeat the purpose of the food security emergency.”
Lintag said the release of buffer stocks will also allow the NFA to procure more palay from local farmers in time for the harvest season in the second quarter of the year.
“In some parts of Western Visayas, harvest is currently low, but nearing the second quarter, we expect palay procurement to pick up across the region,” she said.
The NFA is now coordinating with LGUs to process the required documents and sign memoranda of agreement with participating local governments.
On Monday, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed DA Department Circular No. 3, declaring a food security emergency on rice due to extraordinarily high prices.
The Philippine News Agency also reported that aside from LGUs, the NFA buffer stock will be released to Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites, other government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations.
