By Leander C. Domingo

THE National Food Authority ( A) is building a P84.8-million warehouse in Barangay Damortis, Santo Tomas, La Union, marking a significant step toward modernizing the country’s rice storage infrastructure and strengthening national food security.

The state-of-the-art facility will feature four drying units with a 30-ton capacity each, capable of processing 600 bags of rice per batch, as well as a rice mill unit able to mill 10 tons of rice per hour.

Once operational, farmers can dry and mill their palay (unmilled rice) free of charge, reducing post-harvest losses and improving the market value of their produce.

Celerina Capones, A-La Union branch manager, said that the project aims not only to reduce post-harvest losses but also to enhance food security, improve grain quality, and support the productivity and income of local farmers.

“The facility will greatly benefit our farmers by reducing post-harvest losses and improving the quality of their produce,” Capones said.

The warehouse is part of a broader initiative to strengthen national buffer stocking and stabilize rice supply and prices across the country.

A Ilocos Region acting manager Liza Balagot explained that the facility is part of a P237-million regional budget covering the construction of three warehouses in the region.

“The construction of this warehouse is proof of the government’s commitment to improving the lives of our farmers and ensuring food security for our people,” Balagot said.

The A targets completion of the warehouse within 240 days, or about eight months. The facility is being built under a usufruct agreement with the La Union provincial government, allowing the A to use provincial land to construct modernized facilities.

Another A warehouse in Rosales, Pangasinan is expected to increase the government’s storage capacity in the southern portion of the Ilocos Region.

Joey Pimentel, A acting assistant administrator for finance and administration, highlighted the La Union facility’s role in national food security.

“The facility will contribute to making the national buffer stocking system more efficient, which protects against price volatility and demand fluctuations,” Pimentel said.

He added that by expanding storage capacity, the government can absorb surplus harvests and release stocks during shortages, ensuring stable rice prices and a reliable food supply for consumers.

Balagot said the warehouse is expected to have a significant impact on the local rice industry, providing farmers with access to modern drying and milling facilities and improving the overall quality of rice produced in the region.

“With this new warehouse, the A aims to fortify both local farmers and the broader national food system, demonstrating how targeted infrastructure investments can safeguard livelihoods and national stability,” she added.

Published Date: March 5, 2026