DA seeks to restore, expand NFA’s corn, rice buying powers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for legislation that would allow the National Food Authority (NFA) to directly purchase both corn and rice from local farmers and cooperatives, effectively restoring its traditional procurement powers last exercised before the Rice Tariffication Law.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the proposal is part of amendments envisioned for an amended Rice Tariffication Law under the new RICE (Rice Industry Competitive Enhancement) Act bill filed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The bill seeks to reestablish the NFA’s authority not only to purchase palay but also milled rice and corn, a critical crop for both human consumption and livestock feed.

“Corn is not just a rice substitute in the Visayas and Mindanao, it is the backbone of the country’s feed production for our poultry and livestock sectors,” Tiu Laurel said.

“These sectors are central to the vision of President Marcos of a food-secure Philippines,” he added.

According to the DA’s National Corn Program, yellow corn accounts for 46 percent of feed used in livestock and 62 percent in poultry.

Yet, only 2.5 million hectares are planted to corn, limiting supply despite demand and supporting over 1.1 million Filipino farmers.

Earlier, a group of farm scientists and agriculture advocates urged lawmakers to transform the NFA into a science- and value-guided agency, cautioning that restoring its traditional rice buying and price control functions could repeat decades of costly mistakes.

“This is not change at all; it is starting a new cycle of errors,” said CAMP president and academician Eufemio Rasco Jr., noting that previous iterations of the NFA and its predecessors failed to address chronic farmer poverty and rice supply shortages.

The coalition also recommended broadening the agency’s mandate beyond rice to include other staples such as corn, root crops, legumes, vegetables and seafood, while shifting focus toward infrastructure and marketing support for farmers.