An emergency on rice food security may be declared on February 4, said the Secretary of National Agriculture, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Tiu Laurel confirmed that his office received the official copy of a resolution from the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) concerning the proposed measure.
Natanggap na ng opisina ko kahapon while I’m still in the US iyong resolution that I am to sign. By Tuesday, malamang we will declare a rice emergency,” Tiu Laurel said.
The declaration will allow the National Food Authority (NFA) to offer its rice stocks to local government units (LGUs), other government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) at PHP 36 per kg. Then they can be sold to consumers at PHP 38 per kg.
However, Tiu Laure said that he will carefully review and finalize the exact guidelines for the NFA stock release to ensure smooth transactions.
Much of the 150,000 metric tons (MT) of NFA rice/stock amounts to around three million 50-kg bags distributed to the LGUs and government agencies across Luzon, including Sultan Kudarat, where excessive NFA rice is kept.
The DA intends to begin formally distributing NFA rice stocks in the second week of February.