The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it is yet to receive the official copy of the resolution pushing for the declaration of a food security emergency for rice from the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC).

“We are still awaiting doon sa kopya ng NPCC resolution. We were advised that umiikot pa rin sa mga member agencies iyong resolution (the resolution is still going on rounds among the member agencies), though it is already approved,” DA spokesperson Arnel De Mesa said in an interview.

“Since wala pa sa amin yung kopya (we still don’t have the copy), then we cannot do anything in the meantime,” he said.

The DA earlier announced its target declaration on Wednesday with the anticipated transmittal of an official copy of the resolution on Jan. 20.

Despite the delay, De Mesa said there is still a need to declare a food security emergency for rice even with the downward trend of the retail prices of rice.

“Kailangan pa rin kasi kailangan ma-release pa rin yung stocks ng (We still need to release the stocks of) NFA (National Food Authority),” he said, referring to almost 300,000 metric tons of rice stocks procured from local farmers during the last harvest season.

De Mesa said some retailers are still not adhering to the newly implemented maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for 5 percent broken imported rice in Metro Manila, worth PHP58 per kilogram.

“Though downward trend siya, pero kagaya ng pag-ikot namin, meron pa rin talagang nakikita kami na matataas pa rin iyong presyo (but upon our inspection, there are still those being monitored with high prices),” De Mesa said.

The MSRP implementation, he said, may still roll in February once the official copy of the resolution is sent to the DA within the week.

“As committed by the Secretary (Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.), DA will review it as part of due diligence in two days, and then afterward, saka magkaroon ng (there will be) possible declaration,” De Mesa said.

Under a food security emergency, the NFA will be able to sell rice stocks to local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies, free up space in NFA warehouses, and help local farmers through palay procurement for the upcoming harvest season.

Add’l funds for NFA palay procurement

Meanwhile, the NFA said it needs PHP9 billion in additional funds to procure more palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers in 2025 as the government hikes its buffer stock target from nine days to 15 days.

“The additional six days will necessitate an extra PHP9 billion for palay procurement considering that our palay price procurement increased in 2024,” NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said.

For 2025, the NFA was granted an allocation of PHP9 billion, the same as last year’s budget.

Lacson said the allocation can only cover the original nine-day buffer stocking requirement.

He said the NFA needs to buy an additional 300,000 metric tons (MT) of palay from local farmers at an estimated price of PHP23 per kg. to meet the 15-day buffer stock.

Besides the allocated budget under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the RTL also grants NFA a PHP2 billion fund for palay procurement. (PNA)