Senator Cynthia Villar dismissed accusations that she is obstructing efforts to restore the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to purchase rice from local farmers, asserting that the authority’s previous functions are outdated and inefficient.
Responding to remarks from Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, Villar explained that under the current Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the NFA still plays a crucial role in maintaining a buffer stock of rice sourced from Filipino farmers—especially during harvest season—helping stabilize farmgate prices.
Villar, the principal author of the RTL, emphasized that the government is now focused on sustainable support for the rice sector through programs funded by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which recently received a boost from P10 billion to P30 billion under Republic Act 12078.
She also outlined several reasons why restoring the NFA’s broader powers is unwarranted, including:
- Minimal impact of past NFA programs on market prices
- Poor targeting of rice distribution, with only 17% reaching poor households
- Inefficiencies and losses from past importation efforts
- Financial mismanagement including rice spoilage and unnecessary storage costs
Villar cited a previous Commission on Audit report that criticized the NFA for letting imported rice rot in storage due to over-importation and delays.
She said the new law strengthens the Department of Agriculture’s oversight by authorizing inspections and regulation of grain warehouses, which supports better market interventions during shortages or price spikes—without reviving the flawed strategies of the past.