Sacks of well-milled rice are unloaded during a ceremonial turn-over of NFA Rice by the Department of Agriculture to LGUs as part of the Food Security Emergency on Rice on February 19, 2025 at the NFA Warehouse in Valenzuela City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The National Food Authority has started releasing their buffer stock of rice to local government units, as an effect of the declaration of Food Security Emergency in a bid to lower rice prices.

On Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture and NFA officials held a ceremonial turnover with some of the LGU representatives.

A total of 67 LGUs, including San Juan City, Camarines Sur, and Valenzuela City, were among the first batch of LGUs who expressed intent in selling cheaper rice to their residents.

"Race to finish ito, basically, we really need to unload our stocks as fast as possible, so kung ano hingin ng LGUs, sino mauuna, then we will release," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

(We are rushing to unload our stocks as fast as possible, so we will release the volume requested by LGUs.)

While allowed to impose a P2 per kilo profit margin to cover transportation and other costs, the LGU of San Juan said they opted to absorb the costs and sell at the original price of P33/kilo.

Sacks of well-milled rice are unloaded during a ceremonial turn-over of NFA Rice by the Department of Agriculture to LGUs as part of the Food Security Emergency on Rice on February 19, 2025 at the NFA Warehouse in Valenzuela City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

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"Ang hinahanap sa atin ng ating mga mamamayan ay murang bigas, itong ginagawa ng DA at NFA ay pagkakataon para mailapit natin sa ating mga mamamayan ang murang bigas," said Mayor Francis Zamora of San Juan.

(The public is looking for cheaper rice, what DA and NFA is doing is to bring cheaper rice closer to the people.)

The NFA has an available stock of a total of 300,000 metric tons in their warehouses nationwide.

Tiu Laurel assured residents in the provinces that they could avail cheaper NFA rice if their LGU will participate in the activity.

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They advised interested LGUs to write a letter of intent and sign a memorandum of agreement with the Food Terminal Incorporated if they want to sell cheaper rice.

"Itong NFA rice is more of an appeal from us also na kumuha na ang LGU dahil bawat sakong lumalabas, makakatulong sa pagbili ng NFA sa mga magsasaka natin lalo ngayon na harvest season na," said Joseph Rudolph Lo, President and CEO of Food Terminal Incorporated.

(We are appealing to all LGUs to get rice from us because each sack sold will help our farmers especially this harvest season.)

DA earlier said they wanted to unload buffer stock so they can make space for the upcoming harvest.

Sacks of well-milled rice are unloaded during a ceremonial turn-over of NFA Rice by the Department of Agriculture to LGUs as part of the Food Security Emergency on Rice on February 19, 2025 at the NFA Warehouse in Valenzuela City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

Quality check

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture assured the public that the NFA rice is of good quality.

Tiu Laurel said he has initiated an investigation with the Kadiwa Stall in Murphy Market, where some rice weevils or bukbok were found in their stock.

"Pinaiimbestigahan ko na ito, definitely an isolated incident. It's a lesson for FTI and DA they have to be more diligent in quality control," said Tiu Laurel Jr. 

(We are investigating it. It's definitely an isolated incident. It's also a lesson for FTI and DA to be more diligent in quality control.)