Laurel sees NFA powers facilitating P20 rice rollout

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday that restoring the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to sell rice directly to the public will go hand-in-hand with expanding the reach of the P20-per-kilo subsidized rice program.

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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. added that the NFA hopes to increase its procurement of rice from farmers and sell about 80% of its stock at a markup to generate earnings. These earnings which then be tapped to fund the subsidy.

Mr. Laurel said the plan will rely on the passage of abill seeking to restore the NFA’s powers, including the power to intervene in the market.

The Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act, backed by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law, which had taken away much of the NFA’s powers, leaving it with maintaining the government's rice reserve.