DA to submit ‘wish list’ to Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. will submit today a “wish list” to President Marcos, including a proposal to certify as urgent a bill to return the powers of the National Food Authority.

The NFA’s power to sell its rice stocks in the markets should be returned amid six million bags of aging NFA rice, Tiu Laurel said.

“That (proposed NFA bill) was the topic for half a day during our meeting. We discussed everything. We plan to submit something by Friday, our wish list but I already asked our legal (team) to draft the bill,” he said.

Tiu Laurel noted that Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture and food committee, has opposed the inclusion of provisions returning the NFA’s original functions.

Marcos on Dec. 9 signed into law Republic Act 12078, which amended the Rice Tariffication Law.

If the NFA is given a budget of about P46 billion, Tiu Laurel said the government could buy at least 27 percent of palay from farmers.

“At present, we cannot sell (NFA rice) except for calamities. If we are allowed to sell rice to the public, we can use the budget of the NFA as a revolving fund,” he said.

Once Marcos certifies the NFA bill as urgent, the measure can be passed before Congress adjourns for the May 2025 midterm elections, Tiu Laurel said.

At least six million bags of NFA rice have been stocked too long and may rot if not disposed of soon, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa had said.

The retail price of rice should be P40 per kilo amid the implementation of reduced tariffs under Executive Order 62 and the lower farmgate price of palay, De Mesa said.

Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel backed a proposal to declare a rice emergency in the country amid high rice prices.

If a rice emergency is declared, the NFA may sell its buffer stock to the public at appropriate prices to mitigate the crisis, Tiu Laurel noted.

The DA is also expanding its Rice-for-All program, with more public markets and grocery outlets selling rice at P40 per kilo through Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks.