The National Food Authority (NFA) is considering capping its purchase of unmilled rice, or palay, from farmers at 100 bags per planting season.
“We have been trying to analyze the situation on how we can provide better service to more farmers,” NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said.
Under the current arrangement, some farmers who own more than one hectare of land can sell over 100 bags of rice to the agency. “Why don’t we limit it?
Let’s make it 100 so that instead of just one farmer benefiting, two or three will benefit,” Lacson explained in an interview.
To promote transparency, the NFA has issued a directive requiring that tables be set up in its warehouses so farmers can review the details of each transaction.
Earlier, the agency called on lawmakers to support a proposed bill that would restore its regulatory and market intervention powers—authorities that officials say are crucial for stabilizing rice prices, protecting farmers, and ensuring national food security.
Lacson said restoring these powers would enable the NFA to fulfill its original mandate of keeping rice affordable for both producers and consumers.
Under the current setup, he noted, the agency has limited ability to release rice stocks quickly to help control price spikes. “With market intervention restored, the agency would be able to act more decisively,” he said.
The NFA will also disclose lists of farmers and the volume of palay they sold, based on monthly reports from field offices. These records will be posted on bulletin boards in warehouses and offices, as well as on the agency’s official Facebook page, with the farmers’ consent.
“We will also post their names so there is counter-checking. They can say that these are legitimate farmers,” Lacson added.
A “special table” will be installed in warehouses so representatives from other farmer groups can observe the buying process firsthand.
Additionally, Lacson said NFA personnel will verify whether farmers actually stored their harvests in their own facilities before allowing deliveries to NFA warehouses for procurement.
Daily monitoring will track each transaction, including farmers’ names, vehicle plate numbers, and time of arrival.
Lacson also warned that any traders or NFA staff found violating the rules will face sanctions.
“For farmers who are proven to be taking advantage or proven to be traders, or farmer cooperatives and associations that are also traders, we will blacklist them so they cannot transact with the NFA again,” he said.
