By JEN BAYLON
The National Food Authority (NFA) in Bacolod City is awaiting official guidelines from its central office for the release of rice stocks to local government units (LGUs) for the P20 per kilo of rice program under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Food Security Emergency Program.
NFA-Bacolod officer Benilda Fedil clarified in an interview that no instructions have yet been received for the distribution of rice to LGUs, despite growing anticipation from local officials and residents.
This development comes amid a nationwide push to stabilize rice prices and ensure food security following the DA’s declaration of a food security emergency earlier this year.
The emergency declaration authorized the NFA to release buffer stocks to government agencies and LGUs, with the aim of making rice available to the public at lower prices — reportedly as low as P20 per kilo in some programs.
Despite this authorization, the actual pullout and distribution of rice from NFA warehouses to LGUs has been hampered by bureaucratic requirements and the absence of clear, finalized guidelines.
Meanwhile, Fedil confirmed that their NFA warehouse holds more than 6,000 sacks of rice, all sourced from local farmers and compliant with the agency’s quality standards.
She also emphasized the importance of maintaining a buffer stock in the warehouse for emergencies and calamities.
Under current protocols, LGUs may purchase rice from NFA for relief operations, disaster response, or as part of rehabilitation programs, but these transactions require formal requests and supporting resolutions from local councils.
The NFA also reserves the right to allocate rice quantities based on stock availability and the needs of each LGU.
As Bacolod and other LGUs in Negros Occidental await further instructions, the NFA assures the public that buffer stocks remain secure and ready for release once the necessary guidelines are issued.
Expedite the process
The sale of the P20 per kilo of rice will likely start next week if LGUs comply with the required documents.
“The target depends on how quickly LGUs comply with the required documents for Food Terminal Inc. [FTI]. We are assessing LGUs to expedite the process,” DA-NIR Regional Director Engineer Jose Albert Barrogo said.
The rice will be sold to beneficiaries at P20 per kilo, with the selling strategy and pricing details to be agreed upon by the LGUs.
Barrogo said the subsidy mechanism for the program involves DA shouldering P6.50 per kilo, paid directly to FTI, while LGUs will also contribute P6.50 per kilo.
“The maximum allocation is 10 kilograms per week per family. FTI will purchase from NFA, and NFA will supply the LGUs,” he said.
The program is currently being piloted in the Visayas cluster, with a target implementation period until 2028, though this is still subject to evaluation and possible adjustments based on results.
The P20 per kilo rice program, under the Food Security Emergency Program, targets indigent sectors such as persons with disabilities, beneficiaries of the social welfare program, senior citizens, and similar groups.
“As of now, since this is a pilot program, only indigent sectors are identified as beneficiaries,” Barrogo said.
Earlier, the DA secured clearance from the Commission on Elections to implement the program despite the upcoming elections, with a possible nationwide rollout targeted for January 2026.
The P20 per kilo of rice program is designed to last until at least the end of 2025, with potential extension to 2028 based on evaluation results and adjustments.
This initiative also helps manage NFA’s rice inventory, which currently stands at a five-year high, and supports farmers by allowing the agency to purchase more palay at higher prices./JB, WDJ