
ILOILO City – The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to begin selling rice to local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas at P36 per kilogram following the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) declaration of a food security emergency due to the sharp increase in rice prices nationwide.
“This emergency declaration allows us to release rice buffer stocks held by the NFA to stabilize prices and ensure that rice, a staple food for millions of Filipinos, remains accessible to consumers,” said Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a statement.
Under the directive, the NFA will sell its rice stocks — including those not yet aging — through designated Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites, to LGUs, government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) at P36 per kilogram.
This move aims to make rice more affordable while increasing the NFA’s capacity to buy palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers, strengthening the country’s rice buffer stock.
NFA Region 6 manager Jasmin Lintag confirmed that interested LGUs in the region are currently preparing the necessary documentary requirements to finalize a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the agency.
“Once the requirements are complete, NFA rice will be made available at stores designated by the LGUs,” Lintag said.
Since discussions on the food security emergency began two weeks ago, the NFA has been engaging LGUs across Western Visayas to inform them of the special program. So far, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, and 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental have expressed interest in purchasing NFA rice, with more expected to follow as the agency continues its outreach.
“The emergency declaration enables the NFA to release buffer stocks to LGUs that are interested and willing to buy our rice. The rice varieties available for sale include different classifications such as regular rice, about-to-age rice, and aging rice. The LGUs, in turn, will distribute these stocks to their constituents at lower prices to help reduce retail costs,” Lintag explained.
The NFA will impose a monthly sales limit on rice purchases by LGUs. For instance, Iloilo City is allotted 7,500 bags per month, while Bacolod City and the 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental are allocated a total of 42,000 bags monthly.
Despite the planned sales, Lintag assured that the NFA will maintain sufficient buffer stocks for emergencies and calamities, including supplies for agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Currently, approximately 922,000 bags of rice are stored in 31 warehouses across the region, ready for LGU distribution.
Lintag clarified that NFA rice will only be sold to LGUs and not to private traders. She also emphasized that LGUs must keep the retail price low to prevent defeating the purpose of the food security emergency declaration.
“The LGUs should only recover their capital and logistical costs. The rice price should remain lower than the commercial milling rate,” Lintag stressed.
In addition to preparing rice stocks for sale, the NFA continues its palay procurement program, purchasing from local farmers at P18 to P23 per kilogram. Lintag highlighted that only good-quality and properly dried palay are accepted to ensure they pass the NFA’s quality audit.
“This measure ensures that the palay is at a mature stage and free from infestation. Infested stocks are either old or sourced from non-verified sectors and will not pass NFA standards,” she added.
Lintag assured that NFA rice remains of high quality and suitable for consumption./PN