NFA says it will address rice issues with P10 billion upgrade

March 10, 2025 , 11:50 PM

By Bea Rollo

(March 10, 2025) – The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to modernize its rice storage and processing infrastructure with a system upgrade worth P10 billion.

The modernization program, which aims to enhance rice recovery and increase farmers’ profitability, was funded by P5 billion each from the last two national budgets.

In a media release, the NFA said it will build new rice mills, upgrade drying facilities, expand storage capacity, and repair warehouses, among other steps to address the country’s rice supply challenges.

“As part of last year’s funding, P1.5 billion will be dedicated to repairing existing warehouses to ensure the preservation of both palay and rice quality. The remaining P3.5 billion will be used to add 800,000 metric tons of storage capacity by next year, nearly doubling the NFA’s current capacity,” said the media release.

NFA administrator Larry Lacson said the “initiative aims to eliminate inefficiencies in post-harvest processing” and could stabilize rice prices.

In January, the Department of Agriculture issued a food security emergency to help lower rice prices, allowing the NFA to sell its buffer stocks to local government units.

ALSO READ: P33 per kilo of rice possible once food security emergency declared, claims DA

Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr., House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and other public officials have claimed that the administration will reduce rice prices to ease the economic burden of Filipinos. Rice prices, however, have yet to stabilize.

The daily average national consumption of the household staple is estimated at 37,000 metric tons.

“For this year, the NFA needs to purchase 545,000 metric tons of palay to maintain a nine-day supply, and a total of 880,000 metric tons to meet the new buffer stock requirement of 15 days, as stipulated under the amended Rice Tariffication Law,” added the media release.

The NFA expressed optimism that the multi-billion system upgrade will finally make rice prices more affordable.

The modernization projects are expected to be operational by the end of next year, aligning with the harvest season in 2027.

(PM)

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