SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday expressed his full support for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposal to overhaul the National Food Authority (NFA), emphasizing that the initiative directly addresses the urgent need to bring down rice prices, support Filipino farmers, and stabilize the country’s food supply system.
The proposal, formally submitted by the DA to Malacañang last week, seeks to restore the NFA’s power to directly intervene in the rice market, especially by buying palay at competitive prices and maintaining buffer stocks to temper price spikes.
The measure also envisions a reorganized agency with a clearer mandate to support Filipino farmers and protect consumers.
Speaker Romualdez said the House of Representatives will immediately act on the proposed bill once it is transmitted to Congress, citing strong public demand for reforms in the rice industry amid persistent food inflation.
“This proposal speaks to the unity of purpose among members of the House majority coalition: to prioritize the needs of ordinary Filipinos, especially the farmers who feed our nation and the consumers who struggle with rising food prices,” said Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 306-strong House of Representatives.
“Ang mahal ng bigas, at ang pinaka-apektado ay ang karaniwang pamilyang Pilipino. The good news is that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is doing everything in its power to address this and this NFA revamp bill is one way to lower food prices, empower farmers and protect our consumers,” Speaker Romualdez stressed. “Kailangan nating tiyakin na may sapat na buffer stock ang gobyerno at may tulong na makakarating sa ating mga magsasaka.”
Under the proposal, the NFA will be empowered to purchase palay at fair farm-gate prices and maintain a more robust buffer stocking system, allowing it to step in when prices spike due to calamities, hoarding or market manipulation.
“Our farmers are our greatest resource. Hindi na dapat pinapayagan ang magsasaka na malugi. Dapat may kakampi sila sa gobyerno. Sa panukalang ito, makakabenta sila ng palay sa presyong makatao,” Speaker Romualdez said.
The draft bill also includes provisions for price supports, post-harvest facilities and better coordination between the NFA and local governments, which the Speaker said will help ensure stable food supplies at the community level.
“Rice is life for Filipino families. This measure will help ensure that no household goes hungry simply because rice becomes too expensive,” the Speaker stressed.
“Alam naman nating hindi sapat ang ayuda kung ang presyo ng bigas ay hindi kayang abutin ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Dito papasok ang NFA para magbenta ng bigas sa presyong abot-kaya,” he said.
The bill is in line with the Marcos administration’s Bagong Pilipinas governance framework, which aims to deliver whole-of-government responses to inflation, poverty and supply chain vulnerabilities.
“This is not just an NFA reform bill: it’s a social justice bill,” Speaker Romualdez said. “It puts the full weight of the state behind our farmers and ensures our people will not be left helpless when prices go up due to war, calamity, or market abuse.”
Speaker Romualdez said the NFA overhaul reflects the House’s commitment to legislate meaningful, practical solutions to everyday problems.
“Yes, these are reforms for and within the NFA to aid both farmers and consumers. May win-win situation ito, at ito ang ating sisikaping mapanday sa magiging bagong batas,” he said.
He added that past controversies involving the NFA will serve as guideposts for Congress to draft a law that enforces accountability and prevents abuse.
“May mga leksyon tayong nakuha noon, at sisiguraduhin naming hindi na mauulit ang mga pagkukulang sa NFA. Kasama sa reporma ang transparency at maayos na pamamalakad,” Speaker Romualdez said.
The Speaker reiterated that the House supermajority is fully behind the push to pass the measure as soon as possible.
“Bilang mga lingkod-bayan, tungkulin nating siguruhin na ang bawat Pilipino ay may sapat at murang pagkain, at ang bawat magsasaka ay may maayos na kabuhayan. Magkakasama tayong kikilos para maabot natin ito,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“We will not allow politics to get in the way of protecting the public. In unity with the Executive, we will move quickly and decisively to pass a measure that helps both ends of the supply chain,” Speaker Romualdez said.
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