The National Food Authority (NFA) has made a major move to boost the country's food security, increasing its rice buffer stock to an impressive 7.56 million 50-kilo bags of milled rice. This milestone comes as the summer harvest reaches its peak, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to intensify palay procurement and provide stronger support to Filipino farmers.
As of April 24, the NFA’s inventory stood at 10.1 million bags of palay (unmilled rice) and 1.2 million bags of milled rice. This supply is enough to feed the entire country for 10 days—the highest stockpile the NFA has recorded since late 2020.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson shared the agency’s commitment to further strengthen the inventory. “We still have about ₱12 billion allocated for palay procurement, and we intend to maximize purchases during the ongoing summer harvest,” he said. This effort, he emphasized, is crucial in making rice more affordable for Filipino consumers.
Under its mandate, the NFA is authorized to purchase palay solely from local farmers—many of whom are among the nation's poorest. This year, the NFA has been buying palay at rates between ₱18 and ₱24 per kilo, ensuring farmers a reliable market for their harvest.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the importance of the ₱20-per-kilo rice program, not just as a campaign promise fulfillment but as a key strategy for managing the NFA's growing stockpile. “In the past, the NFA could directly sell rice to the public, helping stabilize both supply and prices,” he explained. However, the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) changed that—limiting the agency’s role to maintaining buffer stocks for emergencies and removing its previous price regulation functions.
This shift in mandate initially led to a sharp decline in rice reserves, which at one point had dropped to just enough to cover a single day's consumption nationwide. Thanks to new measures, including approval to purchase palay at higher prices—up to ₱30 per kilo—the NFA has successfully reversed the worrying trend.
Looking ahead, Secretary Tiu Laurel said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is working to expand the ₱20 rice program, starting with a pilot launch in the Visayas. Local government units are expected to help subsidize costs, with hopes of finding legal mechanisms to roll out the program nationwide—even amid election-related restrictions.
"Hopefully, we can finally deliver on this long-awaited promise of President Marcos," Tiu Laurel added.
Through these initiatives, the government is not only boosting food security but also reaffirming its commitment to uplift the lives of millions of Filipino farmers and bring affordable rice to every household.
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