MANILA, Philippines — The National Food Authority is expected to start releasing at least 700,000 bags of NFA rice to local government units (LGUs) this week as part of the implementation of the food security emergency.
In a radio interview yesterday, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the NFA will sell the rice stocks at P33 per kilo while the LGUs can resell the staple at P35 per kilo.
“There is still of course a need to address bureaucratic process between the NFA, Food Terminal Inc. and the LGUs so hopefully, this week all of these will be finalized and we can release the first stock of NFA, totaling 700,000 bags,” De Mesa said.
On Feb. 4, the country was placed under a food security emergency as measures set in place by the government to pull down rice prices have failed.
Citing an “extraordinary increase in rice prices,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Department Circular No. 3 formally declaring a food security emergency, based on a resolution of the 10-member National Price Coordinating Council.
With the declaration of a food security emergency, the NFA can start selling its rice stocks.
“The priority areas include Metro Manila. Outside the National Capital Region, the priority areas are those with high retail price (of rice) based on the study of the Philippine Statistics Authority. The highest was in region 7, particularly Cebu,” De Mesa added.
De Mesa added that the release of NFA rice is necessary so that the warehouses will be freed of stocks in time for the harvest of local farmers.
“The capacity of the warehouses of NFA is very limited. That’s the intention (of the food security emergency),” he added.
He noted that the harvest for the dry season has already started and will peak in March until April.
According to De Mesa, Tiu Laurel will immediately lift the food security emergency once the objective to bring down the retail prices of rice is achieved.
Aside from the food security emergency, the DA has imposed maximum suggested retail price (SRP) on imported rice after Executive Order 62, which lowered the tariff on imported rice to 15 percent, failed to bring down prices.
Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of imported special rice is still sold for as high as P60 per kilo despite the P55 max SRP.
Imported premium rice was sold as high as P58 per kilo; imported well-milled rice, P45 per kilo and imported regular rice, P46 per kilo.
De Mesa said that no notice of violation will be issued to retailers despite non-compliance to the max SRP to allow them to sell their old stocks.
Healthier food options
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that healthier food options may soon be available as PhilRice technologists have developed pigmented rice bran-infused yogurt.
PhilRice food technologist Henry Corpuz said the improved yogurt incorporates stabilized rice bran—the outer layer of red and black rice known for its high dietary fiber, vitamins, mineral content and phytochemicals.
Corpuz added that these nutrients may offer various health benefits, including antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and antidiabetic properties, making the yogurt an even healthier alternative to conventional dairy-based probiotics.
“We’re making it even better by using buffalo milk in partnership with the Philippine Carabao Center at Central Luzon State University and enriching it with pigmented rice bran,” Corpuz said.
PhilRice has also developed a variety of functional food products made from brown rice, low glycemic index rice and germinated brown rice.
“These food innovations align with the government’s efforts to address the triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition or wasting and stunting, micronutrient deficiency or lack of essential vitamins and minerals, and overnutrition or excessive food intake leading to obesity,” Corpuz said.