The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to begin dispensing its buffer rice stocks to local government units (LGUs) by next week, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

On 4 February, the Department of Agriculture (DA) declared a food security emergency on rice following the recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) to combat the persistently high price of rice in the market despite lower global costs.

According to Laurel, more than 50 LGUs have expressed their intent to acquire NFA rice.

“So far, many LGUs have signified their intent. But as it appears in the procedure, there is documentation that needs to be completed,” he said in a press briefing.

“Hopefully, after all the documentation between FTI, NFA to FTI, FTI to LGU, National Food Authority (NFA) this will be rolled out by next week,” he added.

Once the rice supply is released to LGUs — through the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and Kadiwa centers — consumers will be able to buy NFA rice at P35 per kilo.

Additionally, this will free up space in NFA warehouses to accommodate the rice harvests procured by the DA from local farmers.