NFA Wants Emergency Powers to Sell Rice Directly — Target Price: P33 Per Kilo

The National Food Authority is pushing for temporary emergency powers that would let them sell rice straight to consumers — cutting out the middlemen and bringing the price down to just P33 per kilo.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson told reporters that the current system is too slow. Right now, NFA can only offload its rice stocks through government channels like the Food Terminal Inc., which then sells through local government units and Kadiwa centers. "While there is a crisis, the NFA should be allowed to sell directly to the market," Lacson said. "This way, we can directly remove that layer."

The urgency is real. Rice prices have been creeping up due to rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict. The country's rice buffer stock currently sits at around 6 million 50-kilo bags — roughly 360,000 metric tons — which is only good for about 10 days of national consumption. That's a thin cushion.

Beyond direct selling, the NFA also wants to implement an "emergency purchase" scheme to speed up procurement, add more trucks for logistics, and fast-track the milling process which is typically bogged down by bidding procedures. Lacson added they plan to slightly increase their palay buying price by month's end to compete with private traders.

The proposed measures could be folded into the same bill granting President Marcos emergency powers to reduce fuel excise taxes. "If the emergency power is already there, and we were given a mandate, then we'll be faster," Lacson explained. For now, millions of Filipino families are watching rice prices — and hoping someone moves quick enough.

Source: Manila Bulletin