NFA-Eastern Pangasinan targets 500K bags of rice
AMID FOOD SECURITY EMERGENCY
THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Eastern Pangasinan aims to purchase half a million 50-kilogram bags of palay (unmilled rice) this year to bolster supply and support local farmers amid the national government’s declaration of a food security emergency to bring down the retail price of the staple.
Cherry Ann Soriano, supervising grains officer for NFA Eastern Pangasinan, said in a recent interview that they anticipate securing 165,000 bags of palay in the first half of the year, specifically between March and June.
She expressed confidence in meeting their target for 2025, citing last year’s achievement of surpassing their goal by procuring 539,111 bags of palay.
Rice inflation reached a high of 17.9% in September 2023, based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, due mainly to imported rice.
As of January 31, the procurement price for wet palay ranged from P18 to P23 per kilogram, while dry palay was priced between P23 and P30/k.
Under the food emergency declaration, the government will be able to release NFA buffer stocks to help stabilize retail prices.
NFA Eastern Pangasinan Assistant Manager Frederick Dulay also assured that the province has adequate rice supply, including for distribution in cases of calamities.
As of February 3, NFA Eastern Pangasinan had a stock of 459,388 bags of palay and 26,203 bags of rice. Based on local consumption rates, this stock is sufficient for about 13 days. (Ahikam Pasion)
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