THE National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday began releasing rice stocks to local government units (LGUs) in response to the declaration of a food security emergency.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. handed over rice to San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier Zamora in a ceremony at an NFA’s warehouse in Valenzuela City.
Mr. Zamora heads the Metro Manila Council.
Aside from Metro Manila, 50 more LGUs have expressed their intent to participate in the program, the DA said.
“We expect more local government units to participate in this effort, which will benefit not only consumers but also rice farmers,” according to Mr. Laurel, who chairs the NFA Council.
The NFA seeks to release 25,000 metric tons (MT) of rice every month during the emergency.
The DA will oversee the selling of rice through state-owned Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI), since the amended Rice Tariffication Law bars the NFA from selling rice directly to the public.
The rice emergency declaration authorizes the FTI to distribute rice directly to LGUs, as well as to government-subsidized markets and participating government agencies.
“With the P9 billion allocated by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for NFA’s rice procurement this year, and the remaining funds from last year’s record purchases, we aim to buy even more palay (unmilled rice) from farmers,” Mr. Laurel said.
He said the NFA’s disposal of stocks will clear the way for storing the upcoming harvest.
The rice will be available for P33 per kilo, or P1,650 per sack, with a suggested retail price of P35 per kilo.
Mr. Laurel said rice sales via LGU channels could commence by Monday.
The DA does not oppose the resale of the NFA rice, but the price should not exceed the suggested retail price of P35 per kilo, Mr. Laurel added.
LGUs can order as much rice as they want as the upcoming harvest is likely to replenish NFA stocks.
“Basically, we need to really unload our stocks as fast as possible,“ he said. “Whatever the LGU requests, we will release. Then, we will stop at 150,000 tons.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza