The Department of Agriculture (DA) expressed support on Monday for the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, which aims to restore the regulatory functions of the National Food Authority (NFA) to better serve farmers and consumers.
“Kapag naging batas iyon, magkakaroon na ng kapangyarihan ang NFA (Once it is enacted, the NFA will regain powers), mandato na buhayin iyong accreditation ng NFA retail outlets sa palengke (the mandate to revive the NFA’s accreditation of retail outlets in markets),” said DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa in an interview.
De Mesa’s comments followed the introduction of House Bill No. 1 by reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, which seeks to reauthorize the NFA to intervene in the rice market by accrediting retail outlets and selling affordable rice directly to the public.
Currently, the NFA’s role under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) is limited to maintaining a 15-day buffer stock for emergencies, with the release of rice stock beyond that requiring a declaration of national emergency.
“Diretso na magre-release si NFA sa palengke. So, di na dadaan ng LGU (local government unit), ng FTI (Food Terminal Incorporated). So, iyon iyong mas mabilis (The NFA will directly release in the market. So, it will not go through LGUs or FTI. That’s the faster way),” de Mesa explained.
He added that reinstating the NFA’s authority would enable the agency to set a floor price for palay, protecting farmers from low buying prices. As of July 2, farmgate prices had dropped to as low as PHP7 per kg in Mindanao and PHP8 to PHP12 per kg in parts of Luzon, while the NFA’s buying rate remains at PHP19 to PHP24 per kg.
Additionally, under the DA’s “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program, the NFA sells rice at PHP20 per kg to vulnerable sectors in 101 sites nationwide, including beneficiaries of the 4Ps program, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and minimum wage earners.