BETTER RICE QUALITY. National Food Authority (NFA) officer-in-charge Administrator Larry Lacson discloses plans to ensure improved quality of procured NFA rice at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over PTV4 on Wednesday (April 17, 2024). He said calamity-affected recipients should have access to good quality rice through the national rice buffer stock. (Screengrab from PTV4)
MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday said the approved PHP10 billion funds for the modernization of post-harvest facilities will help address the disparity in its drying capacity for palay.
"Actually, sa ngayon ay dapat may capacity tayo ng (for now, we should have a capacity of) 495,000 metric tons. Ang capacity natin ngayon (but our current capacity) for drying is only 31,000 metric tons," NFA Administrator officer-in-charge Larry Lacson said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing over PTV4.
Lacson, however, said the PHP10 billion fund is not enough to cover all the targeted capacity for drying palay.
"Kulang pa po iyan, malayo pa po (It's not enough, still far). It’s a multi-year activity, so hopefully, after that multiyear activity ay mapunan natin lahat iyan (we may cover it all)," he added.
The post-harvest modernization fund, which the NFA Council approved last April 11, shall be utilized for the construction of warehouses, dryers, milling facilities and silos, among others, in Dingras, Ilocos Norte; Concepcion, Tarlac; Dumangas, Iloilo; and Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.
Once accomplished, the NFA projects to secure an additional 150,000 metric tons of drying capacity, and another 120,000 for rice milling capacity.
Better rice quality
Lacson vowed to improve the quality of rice being procured for the country's national buffer stock.
"Ibinabangon natin ang imahe ng NFA rice – gusto po natin kapag sinabing NFA rice, maganda (We're raising the image of the NFA rice, we want that when we say NFA rice, it's good)," he said.
Lacson added the purchased rice should match the commercial quality.
"Kumbaga nasalanta na mga tao, tapos papakainin pa natin ng pangit na bigas eh parang double whammy na tayo. So, ang gusto natin ay napakagandang bigas (The people were calamity-stricken, and yet you'll give them bad quality rice, it's like a double-whammy. So, what we want is rice with very good quality)," he said.
The NFA Council earlier approved an increase in the buying price of palay, which is equivalent to PHP23 to PHP30/kg. for dry and clean palay, as well as with fresh palay which is set at PHP19 to PHP23/kg.
The price range is higher than the current price range of PHP19 to PHP23/kg. and PHP16 to PHP19/kg. for dry and fresh palay, respectively.
Lacson, meanwhile, said the NFA targets to release its new rice buying price bulletin this week considering different prices of traders nationwide.
Overall, the NFA needs to secure 300,000 metric tons of rice for the country's buffer stock. (PNA)
