00:00The Department of Agriculture is tapping the NFA to sell even cheaper rice to local government units
00:07that can pass or relay these stocks of cheap grain to their constituents.
00:12And then the DA will prop up its efforts to assist farmers
00:17with modern farm machinery and inputs like fertilizers and free seeds
00:22so they can be more competitive in the liberal market.
00:25Just a couple of the DA's latest moves on affording the public cheaper rice,
00:30Asprey TV's Claizel Partilia reports.
00:35The Department of Agriculture is ramping up efforts
00:38to increase the availability of affordable rice in the market.
00:42The agency plans to distribute NFA rice to local government units
00:47which can then sell the rice to their constituents
00:50or use it as relief assistance during calamities.
00:54NFA rice will be sold at 38 pesos per kilo,
00:58making it as affordable or even cheaper than current market prices
01:03of 38 to 65 pesos per kilo in major metro Manila markets.
01:08In a statement, DA's Spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said,
01:13It can still bring down the price because the more available, the cheaper.
01:20The National Food Authority has 300,000 sacks of rice for immediate sale.
01:26These stocks classified as aged or non-regular rice
01:30which have been stored for two months but remain in good quality.
01:34The NFA said, releasing these stocks will create space
01:38for the incoming harvest this season.
01:41NFA Administrator Larry Lacson explained,
01:44We have experienced some branches and warehouses
01:49where we can't really accept a lot of rice because there's no time to store it.
01:55After a month, let's say next month,
01:58that whole, almost 700,000 bags of rice,
02:04it will be considered as two months and above
02:07that can be disposed as an aging stock.
02:10The NFA has allocated 15 billion pesos to purchase locally harvested palay,
02:16ensuring farmers can sell their produce to competitive prices.
02:20In addition, the agency is constructing 30 rice processing facilities nationwide
02:26to help farmers efficiently dry and process their harvest.
02:29Administrator Lacson emphasized,
02:32Now, they will dry it and sell it.
02:36No, it's dry. It's wet. Accept all of that.
02:40In fact, we would prefer it to be wet.
02:43Correct.
02:44Because we already have facilities.
02:46And we know that the drying process is correct.
02:49Meanwhile, the DA assured the early distribution of free seeds and fertilizers to farmers
02:54as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
02:57The department's efforts are supported by a 30 billion peso fund
03:02under the Rice Tarification Law
03:04and an additional 21 billion pesos for its National Rice Program.
03:09These initiatives aim to boost rice production
03:12and make it more accessible and affordable for Filipino consumers.
03:17From PTV Manila, Glazel Pardilia, Balitang ang Bansa.
