By Giselle P. Jordan.

AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is optimistic the country can surpass its 2023 record of 20.06 million metric tons (MT) of local palay production this year, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to restore the DA’s rice production budget.

“We’re now hopeful we could do better than 2023,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that the reinstatement the P10-billion budget cut from the DA’s rice program will enable the agency to hit its 20.46 million MT target for 2025.

Initial estimates of 19.3 million MT in rice output for 2024 faced challenges due to the El Niño climate disruption early last year and crop damage from flooding due to La Niña in the latter part of that year.

Tiu Laurel added that the National Food Authority (NFA) will continue its rice procurement program, which resulted in its warehouses being fully stocked for the first time in years, thus ensuring rice security for the country.

In 2024, NFA bought palay (unmilled rice) equal to 300,000 MT of rice, which helped stabilize rice supply despite shortfalls in local production.

“This year, NFA will buy a minimum of 300,000 MT,” Tiu Laurel said.

The amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) signed last month raised the NFA’s buffer stock requirements from nine to 15 days of national consumption.

Published Date: January 21, 2025