By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA Integrated News

The National Food Authority (NFA) on Tuesday said it has sold 20,000 bags of rice to local government units since the government declared a national food emergency in February.

”Sa ngayon, February 3 na-declare iyon pero hanggang sa ngayon nasa 20,000 bags pa lang iyong actual na lumalabas sa aming bodega. Pero napakaraming orders, meaning hindi pa lang nila nawi-withdraw. Ang reality is 20,000 bags pa lang,” NFA administrator Larry Lacson said in a briefing.

(It was February when it was declared, but up to now, there are only 20,000 bags that were sold from our warehouses. But there are a lot of orders, meaning they have yet to withdraw. The reality is only 20,000 bags.)

There is no need for the NFA to secure an exemption from the election spending ban to sell rice to LGUs amid the declaration of a food security emergency in the country, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had said. 

However, the poll body clarified that LGUs are required to request the spending ban exemption if they are going to use the rice for subsidy (ayuda) or for reselling at a subsidized rate, saying these actions are deemed part of social services. 

It was in February when the Department of Agriculture wrote to the Comelec to clarify whether or not the actions of the NFA to sell rice to LGUs can be considered a violation of Section 261 (v) (1) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC). —VAL, GMA Integrated News

Published Date: April 15, 2025