LGUs urged: Expedite pullout of rice stocks
THE National Food Authority (NFA) urged local government units (LGUs) to expedite their pullout of the agency's rice stocks under the food security emergency to free up warehouse space. The sale of the NFA's stocks to LGUs and other government offices through the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Food Terminals Inc. (FTI) allows the agency to make space palay (unmilled rice) procured from local farmers. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the measure helps the DA improve domestic food security and ensure stable and fair pricing. While the law prohibits the NFA from intervening with the market, the DA ordered the agency to release its stocks to LGUs and government agencies to help bring down rice prices. The directive is in line with the declaration of a food security emergency on rice in the country. The DA aims to lower rice prices to July 2023 levels, when the prices began to go up following India's decision to ban non-basmati rice export. The price increase was helped along by the growing demand for rice in anticipation of poor harvests because of extremely dry weather conditions triggered by the El Niño in 2024. India has lifted the export ban, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has cut rice tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent last July, but rice prices continued to remain high. San Juan City has started to release NFA rice stocks. Navotas City, Cotabato and Camarines Sur LGUs are expected to follow. The three LGUs have ordered over 120,000 sacks of rice, according to the FTI. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. reportedly ordered the NFA and FTI to offer easier payment terms for LGUs. The NFA said the pullout would not only free up warehouse space but also help prevent farmers from resorting to selling their palay to exploitative traders and middlemen. There are reports of traders purchasing palay from farmers at P15 per kilo, way below the NFA's palay purchasing price of P23 to P24 per kilo of clean and dry palay. Full warehouses have hindered the NFA from procuring palay, particularly in Mindoro. The NFA plans to build a new warehouse in the area to increase storage capacity, but the warehouse may not be ready until next year. The head of the House or Representatives' joint panel that is investigating the increase of food prices has lauded the decision to sell NFA rice at P35 per kilo as a "major step" in stabilizing food prices amid the ongoing food security emergency in the country. House Agriculture Committee Chairman and Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, one of the leaders of the House Murang Pagkain Supercommittee, or also known as the "Quinta Comm," welcomed the DA's move but emphasized that reforms are needed to sustain affordable rice prices and protect both consumers and farmers in the long run. The panel is composed of five committees — Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services and the Special Committee on Food Security. Enverga noted that while the world market price of rice has dropped, the tariff has also decreased under Executive Order 62, "but why are we not feeling the decrease in price? If we implemented this properly, the price of rice should've decreased earlier. The cartels should not have profited from the problems of the people." In a separate statement, Speaker Martin Romualdez called on the candidates in the May 12 elections to prioritize rice affordability, stressing that while recent government measures have yielded positive results, sustained efforts are necessary to achieve long-term solutions. Romualdez also called on his fellow lawmakers and electoral candidates to conduct on-ground verification to ensure that benefits of national policies are felt at the grassroots level. "Numbers and reports are not enough. We need to go down to our districts, speak to our farmers, vendors and consumers. We should ask, 'Is there enough rice that we would cook for our countrymen? How can we further decrease their prices without shortchanging our farmers?'" Romualdez said.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE National Food Authority (NFA) urged local government units (LGUs) to expedite their pullout of the agency's rice stocks under the food security emergency to free up warehouse space.
The sale of the NFA's stocks to LGUs and other government offices through the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Food Terminals Inc. (FTI) allows the agency to make space palay (unmilled rice) procured from local farmers.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the measure helps the DA improve domestic food security and ensure stable and fair pricing.
While the law prohibits the NFA from intervening with the market, the DA ordered the agency to release its stocks to LGUs and government agencies to help bring down rice prices.
The directive is in line with the declaration of a food security emergency on rice in the country.
The DA aims to lower rice prices to July 2023 levels, when the prices began to go up following India's decision to ban non-basmati rice export.
The price increase was helped along by the growing demand for rice in anticipation of poor harvests because of extremely dry weather conditions triggered by the El Niño in 2024.
India has lifted the export ban, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has cut rice tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent last July, but rice prices continued to remain high.
San Juan City has started to release NFA rice stocks. Navotas City, Cotabato and Camarines Sur LGUs are expected to follow.
The three LGUs have ordered over 120,000 sacks of rice, according to the FTI.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. reportedly ordered the NFA and FTI to offer easier payment terms for LGUs.
The NFA said the pullout would not only free up warehouse space but also help prevent farmers from resorting to selling their palay to exploitative traders and middlemen.
There are reports of traders purchasing palay from farmers at P15 per kilo, way below the NFA's palay purchasing price of P23 to P24 per kilo of clean and dry palay.
Full warehouses have hindered the NFA from procuring palay, particularly in Mindoro.
The NFA plans to build a new warehouse in the area to increase storage capacity, but the warehouse may not be ready until next year.
The head of the House or Representatives' joint panel that is investigating the increase of food prices has lauded the decision to sell NFA rice at P35 per kilo as a "major step" in stabilizing food prices amid the ongoing food security emergency in the country.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman and Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, one of the leaders of the House Murang Pagkain Supercommittee, or also known as the "Quinta Comm," welcomed the DA's move but emphasized that reforms are needed to sustain affordable rice prices and protect both consumers and farmers in the long run.
The panel is composed of five committees — Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services and the Special Committee on Food Security.
Enverga noted that while the world market price of rice has dropped, the tariff has also decreased under Executive Order 62, "but why are we not feeling the decrease in price? If we implemented this properly, the price of rice should've decreased earlier. The cartels should not have profited from the problems of the people."
In a separate statement, Speaker Martin Romualdez called on the candidates in the May 12 elections to prioritize rice affordability, stressing that while recent government measures have yielded positive results, sustained efforts are necessary to achieve long-term solutions.
Romualdez also called on his fellow lawmakers and electoral candidates to conduct on-ground verification to ensure that benefits of national policies are felt at the grassroots level.
"Numbers and reports are not enough. We need to go down to our districts, speak to our farmers, vendors and consumers. We should ask, 'Is there enough rice that we would cook for our countrymen? How can we further decrease their prices without shortchanging our farmers?'" Romualdez said.
