By Stephanie Sevillano.

MANILA – The rice stock inventory of the National Food Authority (NFA) rose by 485.1 percent in January compared to the same period last year, recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show.

The NFA depositories logged 284,810 metric tons (MT), significantly higher than 48,680 MT rice stocks in January 2024.

In a phone interview Monday, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the surge in national rice buffer stock was due to the higher buying price scheme for local palay (unhusked rice), which is set at PHP23/kg. to PHP30/kg. for dry palay, and PHP17/kg. to PHP23/kg. for fresh or wet palay.

“That allowed us a good chance of buying palay from the farmers kasi dati, hindi tayo nakakapamili sa mga farmers dahil ang presyo ng trader ay let’s say PHP25, tayo nakapako sa PHP19 hanggang (because before, we cannot buy from farmers because the trader’s price is, let’s say PHP25, we are locked from PHP19 to) PHP23,” he said.

He said the NFA rice stocks may further increase with the “flexible” buying scheme in place.

“Dadami pa iyong stocks natin (Our stocks will increase further) towards the end of February and onwards kasi magha-harvest na iyong sa (because there will be harvest in) February, March, April, hanggang Mayo (until May),” Lacson said.

To date, he said the NFA has started palay procurement in Negros Occidental and Misamis Oriental at around PHP23/kg to PHP24/kg range under the flexible procurement scheme.

In terms of aging stocks, Lacson said the NFA has around 80,000 MT to be released.

At the same time, the Department of Agriculture aims to release 150,000 MT of NFA rice stocks to local government units, government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations for the next six months under the food security emergency declaration to help free NFA warehouse spaces and give way for palay procurement during the harvest season.

The recorded overall rice stocks, meanwhile, also rose to 2.16 million MT in January, which is 6.4 percent higher from 2.03 million MT for the same period in 2024, based on the PSA data.

Besides increment in NFA stocks, rice inventory from households also incurred a 5.4 percent annual increase equivalent to 1.1 million MT, higher than last year’s 1 million.

The commercial sector, however, logged a 16.5 percent annual decrease, equivalent to 816,510 MT, lower than January 2024’s 978,000 MT.

For corn, the PSA reported a 45 percent annual decrease in inventory at 328,400 MT in January, down from 597,620 MT for the same period last year.

Gatchalian backs NFA’s rollout of cheaper rice, calls for transparency

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the rollout of cheaper NFA rice must be transparent and strictly monitored to prevent price manipulation.

“The commencement of the National Food Authority’s sale of cheaper rice is a welcome development as this would largely benefit underprivileged households,” he said in a news release Tuesday.

The senator urged the NFA to collaborate with local government units to ensure accountability in the distribution process, ensuring that the intended beneficiaries receive the rice.

Gatchalian also stressed the need for law enforcement agencies to monitor rice supplies closely to prevent hoarding that could drive prices up. (With a report from Wilnard Becelonia/PNA)

Published Date: February 11, 2025