NFA: From 1 day’s worth of buffer, rice supply now enough to last 9 days
The National Food Authority says the country has enough rice supply for more than nine days. Inquirer file photo.
MANILA, Philippines — The government is on track to achieving food security for the country, especially in terms of rice, with enough supply to last over nine days, an official from the National Food Authority (NFA) said on Tuesday.
“If we’re going to talk about rice, we are on track; in fact, in less than a year from having only one day’s worth of buffer stock, we now have 9.36 days,” NFA Administrator Larry Lacson, speaking in Filipino, said in a Palace briefing.
That was his answer when asked if the rice supply is on track with the Marcos administration’s food security goal for the country.
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He further said, “So, we are on track and we are continuously increasing our buffer stock for rice; we all know that rice is the primary gauge for food security.”
Lacson added that they are targeting a rice buffer stock of up to 15 days before the year ends. This goal is estimated to cost P8 billion.
He also said that there are ongoing modernization programs for the country’s warehouses to accommodate the increased buffer stock.
The country currently has 358,000 metric tons of rice, which is enough to feed everyone for 9.36 days in case of an emergency or supply shortage.
As of March 31, the NFA has bought 2.2 million bags of palay from farmers across the nation.
