Better buffer stocking seen after warehouse upgrades

The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects improved grain buffer stocking in Cagayan Valley following the completion of rehabilitation works on six National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses under its Masagana Agri-Food Infrastructure Modernization (MAFIM) program.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., who also chairs the NFA Council, said Friday that the upgraded facilities boost food security and reduce post-harvest losses in one of the country’s top rice-producing regions.

“Our improved warehouses are now better equipped to safeguard rice stocks and ensure rapid deployment during emergencies,” Tiu Laurel said.

“This initiative reflects the Marcos administration’s commitment to improving post-harvest systems, minimizing grain losses, and ensuring that Filipino rice farmers receive fair value for their palay through more efficient procurement by the NFA,” he added.

While the rehabilitation did not expand total storage capacity, it focused on structural upgrades to meet modern storage standards.

The warehouses in Burgos, Roxas, and Tumauini in Isabela can now collectively store up to 148,000 50-kilo bags of rice.

In Nueva Vizcaya, Bagabag and Bayombong facilities can hold 160,620 bags, while Ifugao’s warehouses in Alfonso Lista and Lagawe have a combined capacity of 28,880 bags.

As of 13 June, NFA Isabela had a buffer stock of 437,585 bags of rice, enough to cover the province’s consumption for 34 days. Isabela’s rice yield also averages 5.8 metric tons per hectare, about 41 percent higher than the national average.