NFA retailers an option for faster rice rollout - DA

Metro Manila, Philippines - National Food Authority (NFA) rice retailers may be revived to fast-track the release of buffer stocks under the food security emergency, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa told reporters on Wednesday, April 2, that besides stepping up the release of stocks in warehouses, the NFA retailers would be easier to monitor as authorized outlets.

“Pinapag-aralan na buhayin ‘yung ganong sistema para ma-ensure natin na kumbaga accredited Kadiwa sila,” Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa told reporters on Wednesday, April 2, referring to government-run retail outlets that sell affordable rice.

[Translation: The DA is studying the option to revive such a system and ensure that they are accredited Kadiwa outlets.]

De Mesa said the scheme may be piloted in Metro Manila.

At least 9,900 out of 59,270 bags of NFA rice under the food security emergency have been released. These were sent to San Juan, Navotas, Camarines Sur, and Cotabato.

The NFA previously said 67 local government units (LGUs) have expressed interest to buy well-milled rice.

The agency has appealed to LGUs to expedite the pullout of stocks to make room for local harvest. 

The Rice Tariffication Law stripped the power of the NFA to import and directly sell rice. It is buying palay from farmers to maintain buffer stocks for emergencies.

RELATED: Malacañang backs restoring NFA powers 

Under the amended law signed in December last year, the DA can order the release of NFA stocks when it declares a food security emergency. The stocks, however, can only be sold to LGUs, government agencies, and Kadiwa outlets, and not directly to markets.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. declared a food security emergency on Feb. 3 to address what he called an “extraordinary increase” in prices of the grain.

The emergency declaration could be lifted if rice prices were returned “close to their levels prior to the breach of the food inflation targets which happened in July 2023.”