NFA: ₱20 Rice in Eastern Visayas is Safe and Locally Sourced
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MAY 07,2025
TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Eastern Visayas assured the public that the ₱20-per-kilo government rice is safe, clean, and fit for human consumption. The agency rejected claims that the rice is substandard.
Rice Is Clean and Locally Produced
NFA Regional Director May Sara Sabarre explained that the rice comes from recently purchased palay from local farmers. These were milled and stored in NFA warehouses in Alangalang, Jaro, Santa Fe, and Palo in Leyte.
“Those accusations aren’t true. The rice we’re distributing to local government units is of good quality. It’s grown and milled here in the region,” Sabarre said.
NFA-Why the Rice Looks Slightly Yellow
Some people noticed a yellowish tint in the rice. According to Sabarre, this happens because many farmers can’t dry their harvests right away. The region also lacks modern sorting equipment in local mills.
“It’s not about spoilage. It’s about the drying process. We’re already solving this,” she added.
NFA-New Rice Mills Are Coming
To improve rice quality, the NFA is building modern rice mills in Oras (Eastern Samar) and Alangalang (Leyte). More mills are also planned for Northern Samar, Samar, and Biliran.
VP Duterte’s Remarks Get Pushback
Vice President Sara Duterte recently criticized the ₱20 rice program, calling the rice unfit for human consumption. Her comment sparked backlash from local officials and citizens.
Tingog Party-list Backs the Program
Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre defended the rice program. He admitted it’s not premium-grade but said it’s still good rice—safe, edible, and a relief for many poor families.
“It’s not ₱50-a-kilo rice, but it’s decent and clean. It gives people something to eat,” Acidre said in a May 4 interview.
Launch Postponed, Will Resume May 13
The Department of Agriculture planned to launch the program on May 1. However, due to the election spending ban, they postponed it. The program will now resume on May 13, right after the midterm elections.
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