DA seeks more power for NFA to control rice prices, supply

May 12, 2024 , 09:18 PM

By News5 Digital

(May 12, 2024) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the National Food Authority (NFA) to gain greater control over rice prices and supply in the market.

DA assistant secretary Arnel De Mesa stressed that the proposal is part of planned amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which will expire next year.

“Kung magkaroon ulit ng extraordinary events sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas at doon sa acute shortage ng supply ay pupuwede nang mag-intervene ulit sa merkado ang National Food Authority,” said De Mesa in a media forum on Saturday, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office.

De Mesa added that giving more power to the NFA will allow it to fulfill its mandate better. With this, he posited that grain warehouses might register with the NFA again, allowing it to inspect various facilities and combat illicit practices.

An increase in the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund is also on the table. The annual P10 billion fund will be expanded to P15 billion. “Babaguhin din ‘yung specific allocation, so 50% will go to mechanization na pangungunahan ng PhilMech and then 30% will go to seeds sa PhilRice pa rin ‘yon. Pero ang kaibahan ngayon, ‘yung kasalukuyang RTL ay inbreed lamang ‘yung pinapayagan na binhi,” explained de Mesa.

He also stated that allowing the NFA to buy rice from traders will reduce the agency’s expenses on drying and milling rice.

House Leader Martin Romualdez recently said it’s feasible to reduce the price of rice to P30 per kilo by July if the RTL gets amended.

Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr., a cousin of Romualdez, repeatedly declared during his campaign that he will cut the price of rice to P20 per kilo.

The DA maintained that empowering the NFA is necessary to ensure the country’s rice supply remains stable and market prices remain manageable.

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