The National Food Authority (NFA) expects to miss its 790,000-metric-ton palay procurement target this year due to the potential impact of a strong El Niño on local rice production.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the agency had procured only 92,032 MT from January to September, although it expects to purchase up to 500,000 MT during the wet harvest season through December.
Lacson also cited the country’s limited drying and milling capacity as a major obstacle to increasing procurement, with more than P11 billion still available for purchases.
The NFA has disbursed 207,648 MT of rice and held 278,444 MT in inventory as of Sept. 18, equivalent to a seven-day buffer stock.
Under the Rice Tariffication Law, however, the NFA is required to maintain enough rice reserves to cover 15 days of national consumption.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 26, 2026
