By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Many countries in the world rely on rice as their staple grain of choice for the sustenance of dietary needs, especially among Asian countries like the Philippines.
As such, maintaining a stable supply and keeping prices in check are crucial measures that must be implemented in order for Filipinos to have food on their plates.
Further initiatives such as upgrading food storage facilities hosting the staple grain are also essential in prolonging the shelf life of rice, preserving its quality, and ensuring that it is safe for human consumption.
On Monday, May 26, Department of Agriculture (D.A.) Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. led the reopening of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) newly rehabilitated warehouse in Malolos, Bulacan.
Tiu-Laurel said, “This long-overdue upgrade of a 45-year-old facility ensures that our hardworking rice farmers—especially in Bulacan—are no longer at the mercy of opportunistic traders.”
The NFA currently purchases palay at P18 to P24 per kilo, well above the estimated production cost of P12 to P14. In contrast, some traders had taken advantage of the previous warehouse closure, offering farmers as little as P11.50 per kilo.
Revamped warehouse vital in ensuring food security
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson shared various features of the newly-rehabilitated warehouse that include upgraded electrical systems, improved ventilation, and enhanced safety features.
Built in 1979, the 2,400-square-meter facility had only seen minor repairs over the decades and could now store up to 70,000 bags of 50 kg palay or rice.
Lacson said of the project, “This project is vital to fulfilling the NFA’s mandate of securing a reliable rice buffer stock, especially in times of crisis.”
As of press time, the NFA holds 8.23 million sacks of rice—sufficient to feed the nation’s populace for 11 days.
NFA-sourced rice is now sold at P20 per kilo through KADIWA ng Pangulo stores and selected local government units.
Such measures are crucial in adhering to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mandate to intensify palay procurement, uplift farmer incomes, and sustain the P20 per kilo rice program, a core promise he made during the 2022 campaign. The latter shall remain in effect until the end of his term in June 2028.
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