MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) has already hit 100.06 percent of its target palay procurement for the first half of 2024.
This was after the NFA secured 3,365,245 bags of palay out of the total target of 3,363,100 bags as of June 13.
Overall, the agency has 168,262 metric tons (MT) of palay in all of its warehouses nationwide.
In a statement Thursday, NFA administrator Larry Lacson thanked farmers for taking advantage of the new pricing scheme and selling more of their produce to the agency.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mga magsasaka na patuloy na pinag-iibayo ang pagtatanim ng palay para sa ating bansa. Gayundin sa mga kawani ng ating ahensya na masigasig na naglilingkod para matugunan ang mandato ng ahensya (We thank our farmers who continue to plant palay for our country. Likewise, our NFA personnel who diligently continue their service to fulfill our mandate)," he said.
Lacson said all NFA warehouses remain open for play procurement as the agency targets to secure 300,000 MT of milled rice for the country's national buffer stock.
"We are continuously procuring palay from our local farmers under our Price Range Scheme or PRICERS," he said.
Under PRICERS, the price per kg. for fresh or wet palay ranges from PHP17 to PHP23, and for clean and dry palay, PHP23 to PHP30.
DA aids Kanlaon-affected farmers
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has provided agricultural inputs and other assistance to 2,341 affected farmers and fishers in Western and Central Visayas as agricultural damage hit PHP151 million due to the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
"Best possible efforts are being undertaken to carry out assistance and appropriate interventions for the affected farmers and fisherfolk," the DA - Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center said in a statement Thursday.
These include the distribution of seeds, planting materials, and bio-control measures, as well as drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; the activation of the DA's response fund for rehabilitation; and PHP25,000 worth of loan for each qualified beneficiary under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program, which has zero interest and payable over three years.
According to DA-DRRM Bulletin 3, Canlaon City sustained the highest amount of damage for high-value crops, including vegetables, sweet potatoes, and spices, estimated at PHP101.2 million.
Losses in rice production in Canlaon City and La Castellana were valued at PHP47.1 million, followed by 118 heads of animal losses worth PHP2.17 million in Canlaon, and PHP562,312 worth of damage to corn production in Canlaon and La Castellana.
In terms of volume, losses were recorded at 5,583 metric tons from more than 1,595.8 hectares of affected land.
House support
Meanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez said the administration has Congress’ full backing in revitalizing the agriculture sector.
Romualdez said among the key initiatives to improve the agriculture sector is the bill amending the Rice Tariffication Law, which would give much-needed relief to both farmers and consumers.
"Marami pa po tayong mga kasama sa adhikaing mapalago ang ating sektor ng agrikultura. Nariyan ang National Food Authority na tinutulungan namin sa Kamara de Representante na muling makapag-benta ng bigas na kanilang binili sa inyo direkta sa ating mga kababayan (We have a lot of support for our goal to boost our agriculture sector. The House of Representatives is assisting the National Food Authority so that it can sell rice purchased from you [local farmers] directly to our countrymen)," Romualdez said in his speech during the agriculture convergence event held in Tiaong, Quezon Friday.
He underscored that administration’s assistance under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantage and Displaced Workers short-term employment program and the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization, among others.
