DA, NFA to ensure smooth rollout of ?20/kilo rice

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently convened with regional managers and key officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) to ensure that rice distributed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ?20-per-kilo rice program meets high-quality standards.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., also chairman of the NFA Council, emphasized that the program is an opportunity to change the public perception of NFA rice, which has long been viewed as substandard by some critics and politicians.

“This is our chance to change how people view NFA rice. We want to show that the rice we provide to those in need is not only affordable, but also tasty, nutritious, and just as good as, if not better than, some imported varieties,” he said.

Here in Cebu, various local government units have already implemented the ?20 per kilo rice program since this was launched on May 1, 2025 but was put on hold from May 2 to 12 following the Commission on Elections restrictions.

Laurel also noted that the program highlights the quality of locally-grown rice, aligning with the Rice Tariffication Law, which prohibits the NFA from importing rice for buffer stocks. Instead, the agency is now focused on buying palay directly from Filipino farmers, a move designed to support local production and ensure fair farmgate prices.

Since the May 1 launch of the ?20 rice initiative many consumers have lauded the noticeable improvement in NFA rice quality.

In a bid to protect farmers from exploitation, Laurel directed NFA officials to identify regions where traders are buying rice at unusually low prices, so the agency can prioritize procurement efforts in those areas during the next harvest season.

To recall, Marcos ordered DA to expand the subsidized rice program to benefit the most number of Filipinos and sustain the ?20/kilo initiative through the end of his term in June 2028.

To support these goals, the NFA is boosting its logistics capacity by expanding its fleet of trucks and increasing storage and drying facilities, especially in hard-to-reach farming areas.

The agency still has over ?9.8 billion earmarked for palay procurement this year, an amount sufficient to purchase palay that could yield around 5 million 50-kilo bags of rice.

As of now, the NFA has an inventory of 8 million bags of rice, with half of that volume acquired in the first four months of 2025. — (FREEMAN)