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SAN ILDEFONSO, Bulacan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured farmers that he will ask Congress to restore the National Food Authority's (NFA) original function to ensure food security and price stability.
DIALOGUE WITH FARMERS President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is seen here making an informal dialogue with farmers during his visit in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, on May 28, where he told them (farmers) that the National Food Authority’s original mandate will be restored to ensure a stable income for them and affordable rice prices for consumers. PHOTO COURTESY OF BULACAN PIA
The president made the assurance during his visit to the NFA Warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, on Wednesday, May 28, where he also held an informal dialogue with farmers here.
Marcos noted that the agency's original mandate in 1972, when it was still called the National Grains Authority (NGA), included management of not just rice but also corn and other essential food commodities.
Farmers have called on the president to bring back the regulatory functions of the NFA to help stabilize food prices, especially rice.
The president also wants to allow NFA to sell cheap rice regularly in the market again.
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The NFA is also prioritizing local rice procurement rather than spending on rice importation and this can be done by buying rice and palay directly from the farmers or cooperatives.
While waiting for this medium-term reform in the NFA, Marcos instructed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to expedite the procurement of delivery trucks in order to pick up palay right from the farmland of the farmers.
The president approved the allocation of P5.3 billion to NFA for the provision of rice dryers, with six units set to be deployed in Bulacan.
Additional rice mills similar to those in Pulilan and the City of Baliwag and funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) are also set for turnover to Bulacan.
Marcos also went inside the warehouse and personally supervised the on-going palay procurement of NFA in San Ildefonso.
NFA Bulacan Acting Manager Rhona Talens said that around 549,000 cavans of palay are already procured by the agency and now being stocked in its warehouses in Malolos, Balagtas, San Miguel and in San Ildefonso.
Out of this, 300,000 cavans are already scheduled for milling.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel inspects the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on May 28, 2025. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that there was an adequate supply of rice for the upcoming rainy season. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
As part of his supervision, the president also witnessed the arrival of 130,000 cavans of palay in NFA San Ildefonso warehouse.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson explained that the said procured palay will serve as the country's buffer stocks intended for requirements during calamity and for the sustainability of selling P20.00 per kilo of rice under 'Benteng Bigas Meron na' program.
He also reiterated that selling palay to NFA is definitely an advantage for the farmers rather than sell it to the private traders at P16.00 only. NFA procurement price is P19.00 per kilo for the fresh or newly harvested, while P24.00 per kilo for clean and dry.
To ensure the safety of palay against the rain and all types of infestation, NFA is in the midst of rehabilitating its warehouses.
In Malolos warehouse, where the NFA Bulacan Provincial Office is located, a massive rehabilitation of rice worth P10 million has also been reopened.
The primary component of the said rehabilitation is the upgrading of electrical systems, new ventilations and updated safety features.
Built in 1979 during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., this 2,400-square-meter warehouse can accommodate up to 70,000 of 50-kilo bags of palay or rice.
Rehabilitation of NFA warehouses in San Ildefonso, San Miguel and Balagtas are now in the pipeline wherein NFA is targeting to complete the rehabilitation of the entire 134 warehouses across the country by 2027.
