QUEZON CITY (PIA) – President and Department of Agriculture (DA) head Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assures Filipinos that there is enough supply of rice across the country for the coming months. 

However, the President notes that the government is looking for ways to manage rice prices because of some factors including the number of buffer stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA). 

“Magpa-plano kami kung kailangan mag-import, kung kailangan magpahaba, magparami ng buffer stock sa NFA dahil masyado ng mababa. ‘Yun lang ang nakita naming problema… Kailangan bumili ‘yung NFA para umabot siya ng at least nine days na buffer stock,” the chief executive explains. 

Marcos assures Filipinos that they are adjusting to the possible situation by gradually purchasing buffer stock to make sure that NFA has enough supply. 

NFA rice importation proposes that the arrangement be done through government-to-government transactions, either through the Office of the President or its designated agency. 

The authority may use credit lines with the Development Bank of the Philippines and/or the Land Bank of the Philippines to finance the importation and provide logistics and management support.

Having a sufficient rice supply also addresses the goal of the administration to eliminate hunger in the country and ensure food security. 

Rice is just one of many agricultural products that are available and can be bought at an affordable price at Kadiwa ng Pangulo markets. 

Aside from budget-friendly products, this re-launched program of the Marcos administration also aims to provide additional markets for local farmers and fishermen. 

These initiatives by the government together with the agricultural department emphasize the commitment of the administration to revive the sector. It also shows a cohesive and strategically designed plan of the President to address food security and sustainability in the country. 

President Marcos continues to highlight that the Philippines is beginning to come back to its pre-pandemic status and still progressing as of today. He mentions that the agricultural sector is in good shape and the country’s importation level has decreased. (MVMV, PIA-CPSD)