San Juan City sells sacks of cheap NFA rice

Metro Manila, Philippines - People in San Juan City were the first customers of cheap well-milled rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) under the declaration of a food security emergency.

The local government sold 1,000 sacks on Monday, Feb. 24, at city hall. Each 50-kilogram sack cost P1,650, or P33 per kilogram.

Jemma Reyes said this was much more affordable than the P60 rice they regularly buy.

“Okay naman sa quality na nakikita ko [The rice quality is fine],” she said.

“Sana may kalahati, merong isang sako, ‘kala ko merong per kilo, kailangan pala sako-sako,” said Juanito Valdez, also a resident, who would be trying out the NFA rice.

[Translation: I hope there are options like half-sack, one sack, per kilogram. I didn’t know it was on a per-sack basis.]

The local government conducted a pre-registration to check demand.

Zamora said the local government will buy another set of a thousand sacks with the possibility of repacking into smaller amounts.

“Kung magre-repack tayo, it will be in five-kilo packaging para mas madaling i-control or monitor,” he added.

[Translation: If we repack the NFA rice, it will be in five-kilogram packaging to easily control and monitor.]

The NFA will release around 150,000 metric tons of rice within six months.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said it’s a “race to finish” clearing out NFA warehouses.

Sixty-seven LGUs have expressed their intent to buy rice, the NFA previously said.

Laurel declared a food security emergency as rice prices did not significantly go down after a tariff cut on imported rice last year.

The National Price Coordinating Council, which recommended the declaration, said the emergency state can be lifted once prices return close to July 2023 levels.