DA releases NFA rice stocks for food security emergency
A WORKER from the National Food Authority unload sacks of rice at their warehouse in Valenzuela City, sourced from Region III as part of the Department of Agriculture’s Food Security Emergency on Rice. The rice will be distributed to Quezon City, San Juan City and the CAMANAVA area.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ANALY LABOR FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE @tribunephl_ana
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has released rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) to local government units following the declaration of a food security emergency amid rising rice prices.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday handed over rice supplies to San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier Zamora, who also serves as president of the Metro Manila Council and chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, at a ceremony at the NFA warehouse in Valenzuela City.
Laurel said they expect more local government units to participate in this effort.
“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 from farmers,” the Agriculture chief said.
The NFA had planned to release around 25,000 metric tons per month during the food security emergency, with the possibility of increasing the volume if needed.
According to the DA, the rise in rice prices was triggered by India's ban on the export of non-basmati rice in August 2023 and heightened global demand due to reduced harvests from El Niño in early 2024.
The DA's latest price monitoring showed that imported special rice in major wet markets in Metro Manila is averaging P56 per kilo, with premium rice priced at P53, well-milled at P45, and regular milled at P42 per kilo.
Local commercial special rice, on the other hand, is priced at P58 per kilo, with premium rice at P52, well-milled at P46, and regular milled at P41.
Kadiwa rice-for-all sells well-milled rice for P35.