MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he wants the National Food Authority (NFA) to return to its original role of stabilizing rice prices by purchasing palay from farmers during harvest, maintaining buffer stocks, and selling rice during lean months to reduce the country’s reliance on imports.

“Binabalik natin ang NFA. Alam nyo ng unang tinayo ang NFA, ang trabaho ng NFA, rice and corn yan eh. Rice and corn, ang trabaho ng NFA, bumibili kapag panahon ng ani para hindi babagsak ang presyo. Para may demand, para ma-maintain ang presyo,” Marcos told farmers during a visit in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

“Pagka naman tag-araw, pwede naman, magbebenta naman sila para hindi naman tumaas masyado ang presyo ng bigas para sa mga consumers natin,” he added.

“Nawala ang sistemang yun sa tagal ng panahon.”

The President inspected an NFA warehouse in Barangay Malipampang, San Ildefonso, where he met with farmers and leaders of local cooperatives. He said the government is exploring ways to establish a floor price for rice to help protect farmers’ incomes.

President Marcos was joined by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and NFA Administrator Larry Lacson during the dialogue.

The NFA, created under Presidential Decree No. 4 signed by the President’s father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., on Sept. 26, 1972, was initially tasked with promoting the integrated growth of the grains sector, including rice, corn, and other crops such as monggo, sorghum, and peanuts.

However, over the years, the agency’s mandate has shifted. Marcos lamented that the NFA was reduced to an importing agency, particularly after the passage of Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law in 2019, which transformed the NFA into a buffer stocking agency.

“Tapos pinalitan ang trabaho ng NFA naging importer. Sabi ko hindi naman dapat ganun,” he said.

“Kaya‘t binabalik natin sa dating gawi na yun NFA na bumibili, tinitignan yun presyo, para maganda ang presyo sa pagbili sa inyo (farmers) ng palay,” Marcos added.