By Stephanie Sevillano

MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) on Monday announced the procurement of palay (unhusked rice) at a higher price to support Filipino farmers amid rising production costs.

Under the flexible Price Range Scheme (PRICERS), the agency began buying clean and dry palay at PHP30 per kilogram in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

In a Viber message, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the effort seeks to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on rice producers amid the peak harvest season.

“Makakatulong ito na mabawi ng magsasaka ‘yung gastos sa petrolyo (This will help farmers to recover from their petroleum expenses),” he told the Philippine News Agency.

The production cost in the two provinces is estimated at PHP15 per kilo.

Lacson said the higher buying price will also help protect farmers from unscrupulous traders.

“Mapipigilan nito ang mabilis na pagbagsak ng presyo ng traders dahil magkakaroon ng option ang farmer na magbenta sa NFA (This will prevent the rapid decline of traders’ prices because farmers have the option to sell it to the NFA),” he said.

The higher buying prices will also allow the NFA to secure an adequate supply for the country’s national rice buffer stock in times of natural disasters and calamities, and support the government’s PHP20 per kilo rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na!” program amid the rising demand for government-subsidized rice.

Meanwhile, the NFA will conduct an inspection to ensure proper loading of rice stocks for the P20 program in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Thursday.

The said batch will deliver 35,000 bags out of the 200,000 bags of the target rice stock shipment to Cebu, both for calamity buffer stocking and the BBM Na program requirement.

The NFA seeks to secure 790,000 metric tons or 15.8 million bags of palay to sustain the nine to 15-day national rice buffer stock requirement. (PNA)

Published Date: April 13, 2026