NFA Surigao del Sur ramps up palay procurement, milling for food security
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Surigao del Sur is accelerating palay milling and preparing additional warehouse space to maintain adequate buffer stocks and ensure sufficient rice supply amid the forecasted El Niño.
NFA Surigao del Sur Manager Sara Atoma said the agency received instructions from its central office in August of this year to expedite the milling of palay stocks from previous cropping seasons to free up warehouse space ahead of the peak harvest season. Harvesting has already begun in some municipalities, including San Miguel and Tago.
Atoma said the NFA continues to procure palay from farmers and coordinate with farmers’ cooperatives to streamline procurement. The agency also conducts regular ‘ugnayan’ or linkage activities with partners and stakeholders to encourage more palay deliveries. Meanwhile, it is assessing storage facilities offered by cooperatives and exploring warehouses for rent to accommodate incoming stocks.
With the feared effects of El Niño on agricultural production, the NFA aims to increase palay procurement to strengthen its buffer stocks and sustain the government’s Bigas Program, which provides rice to consumers at affordable prices. Atoma noted that demand for rice under the P20 per kilo program has picked up again after slowing in previous months.
The NFA also regularly monitors rice prices in the province to assess supply and demand conditions and help guide its efforts to maintain adequate stocks and market stability.
Atoma said Surigao del Sur serves as rice supply source for Surigao del Norte and the Dinagat Islands, ensuring availability of rice in the area.
These measures support the government’s food security agenda by strengthening rice buffer stocks, sustaining palay procurement from local farmers, and helping ensure a steady supply of affordable rice for Filipino consumers. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
