The National Food Authority (NFA) has turned over the first batch of sacks of well-milled rice to select local government units (LGUs) in the country following the declaration of a national food security emergency on rice to stabilize its skyrocketing prices.

The event, which was held at the NFA warehouse in Valenzuela City on Wednesday, Feb. 19, was led by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Metro Manila Council (MMC) President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative L-Ray Villafuerte, and other officials from the DA and NFA.

The NFA said it has sold around 300,000 bags of aging rice to local government units (LGUs) in January, followed by another 400,000 bags of aging rice to be sold this month. Both stocks are part of the 700,000 bags of rice in the agency's storage facilities.

“This is nationwide stocks. Pero ang location naman niyan is NCR (National Capital Region) and nearby NCR [areas]," NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said, explaining that the move is in line with Republic Act No. 12078, which amended RA 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), stating that rice stored for more than two months can now be disposed of before further aging.

“Dahil sa amended RTL, dito po nakasaad na pagtungtong po ng dalawang buwan at isang araw ng aming bigas ay pwede na pong i-dispose bago pa po mag-age. Binigyan po kami ng kapangyarihan para i-dispose (Because of the amended RTL, it is stated that once our rice reaches two months and one day, it can already be disposed of before it ages further. We have been given the authority to dispose of it),” he explained.

The LGUs will then sell the aging NFA rice to their constituents.

Sagot Na Namin

During the event, Zamora said the city government will shoulder the logistical costs of the purchased rice to San Juaneños as part of its efforts to provide financial reprieve to its residents.

He said the affordable rice can be bought for P1,650 per 50 kilos, or P33 per kilo.

"Kami po ay hindi na magpapatong. So, kung nakuha po namin ito for P33 per kilo which is equivalent to P1,650 kada sako, yun na din po ang halaga ng pagbenta namin. Ito ay sapagkat ayaw na din naming maging dagdag pasanin pa ng ating mamamayan. The LGU of San Juan will cover all the costs for the trucking, hauling, logistics, and yung paglipat po from here sa warehouse going to San Juan City (If we purchased the rice for P33 per kilo which is equivalent to P1,650 per sack, then that's also how much we will sell it to San Juaneños. This is because we do not want this to be another burden to our constituents. The LGU of San Juan will cover all the costs for the trucking, hauling, logistics, and all transportation expenses from here at the warehouse going to San Juan City)," Zamora explained.

The mayor said the pre-registration for the first 1,000 sacks of rice to be sold in the city on Monday will start Wednesday, Feb. 19.