Senator Nancy Binay recently called on the National Food Authority (NFA) to collaborate with local government units (LGUs) to create a detailed vulnerability map identifying areas most affected by El Niño and the surge of imported rice.
This is to ensure that state resources are strategically deployed to support the most at-risk rice farmers. Binay argued that a targeted approach, facilitated by vulnerability mapping, would allow the NFA to efficiently allocate funding and provide meaningful assistance to farmers in dire need.
While the NFA Council provides some relief at present by selling rice 20 percent below market value (around P40-45 per kilo), amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) would empower the NFA to sell rice directly to markets at lower prices, potentially benefiting both farmers and consumers.
Binay also highlighted the importance of a more efficient NFA buying system, suggesting that targeted support for farmer cooperatives could increase the availability of locally sourced rice at competitive prices.
This approach, she noted, would particularly help low-income households by providing them with affordable, high-quality rice options. “A localized approach, with the help of LGUs (local government units) and a vulnerability map, can be a game-changer,” Binay said.
According to the senator, this strategy not only empowers farmers, but also bridges the gap between NFA’s programs and Filipino farmers, ensuring a more sustainable future for our rice industry and protecting the interests of both producers and consumers.
Binay underscored the government’s responsibility to safeguard farmers and consumers from exploitative middlemen and importers who distort the rice market. A vulnerability map could also help identify small cooperatives in need and understand the unique requirements of different regions.
This would allow the NFA and LGUs to tailor their support programs, potentially providing better storage facilities, improved farm-to-market roads, and financial assistance specifically for marginalized farmers in vulnerable areas.