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# NFA assures enough stocks to sustain P20 rice program amid continued demand
- URL: https://www.wwconemedia.com/nfa-assures-enough-stocks-to-sustain-p20-rice-program-amid-continued-demand/
- Published: 2026-09-08T05:54:53.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-08T05:54:53.000Z
- Author: WWC NEWSDESK
- Tags: POLITICS

**MANILA, Philippines —** The National Food Authority (NFA) is assuring Filipinos that its rice stocks remain sufficient to sustain the government's **P20-per-kilo rice program**, even as demand for subsidized rice continues across the country.

NFA Administrator **Larry Lacson** said Tuesday that the agency has about **2.2 million bags of rice available in its warehouses**, providing the government with stocks to support the ongoing *Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na* initiative.

The assurance comes as the administration continues to expand the P20 rice program, which aims to make affordable rice available to vulnerable sectors while using government-held stocks to help cushion consumers from high food costs.

The program has been rolled out to beneficiaries including senior citizens, solo parents, farmers, fisherfolk, persons with disabilities, 4Ps beneficiaries and other qualified sectors. The Department of Agriculture has also been working to expand the program's reach nationwide.

### NFA stocks remain key to P20 rice rollout

The NFA's role is particularly important because its warehouses provide the government with rice that can be released through subsidized channels.

Earlier in 2026, the agency reported that it had substantial stocks available for the program. In May, *The Philippine Star* reported that NFA stocks stood at **337,618 metric tons**, equivalent to about **6.75 million bags of palay**, which the agency estimated could cover roughly 8.74 days of national consumption at the time.

The NFA has also been releasing older stocks through the P20 program. A Philippine News Agency report said that, as of April, about **54,000 metric tons of aging rice stocks** had been released to Food Terminal Inc. for the subsidized-rice initiative, helping both consumers and the agency's warehouse-management efforts.

This is significant because moving existing stocks through the P20 program can create additional warehouse space for the NFA to procure newly harvested palay from Filipino farmers.

### But national rice stocks have declined

While the NFA says its warehouses have enough rice to sustain the P20 initiative, the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) figures provide a broader picture of the country's rice situation.

As of **August 1, 2026**, the Philippines had an estimated **2.18 million metric tons of rice stocks**, down 6.3% from 2.32 million metric tons a year earlier and 13.3% lower than the previous month's 2.51 million metric tons.

The PSA said **14.1% of the country's total rice inventory was held in NFA depositories**, while 47.5% was in the commercial sector and 38.4% was held by households. NFA-depository stocks were down 32.2% year-on-year and 7.9% from July.

That means the latest NFA assurance should not be interpreted as saying the Philippines has an unlimited rice supply. Rather, the agency is saying its **current warehouse inventory is adequate for the government's subsidized-rice operations**.

### Procurement remains a critical issue

Maintaining the P20 program will also depend on the NFA's ability to replenish its stocks.

In May, *The Philippine Star* reported that the NFA had fallen short of its palay procurement target for the first part of the year. The agency had purchased only **13,127 metric tons of palay**, or 4.2% of its 313,315-metric-ton target for the period.

NFA officials attributed part of the difficulty to competition from private traders, who were offering farmers higher farmgate prices. Administrator Lacson said the agency subsequently increased its purchases as prices normalized.

The procurement issue matters because the NFA's buffer stocks are not simply a source of cheap rice for consumers. They are also part of the government's food-security mechanism, particularly during emergencies and periods when domestic supply is tight.

### P20 rice program continues to expand

The government has been steadily widening the reach of the P20 rice initiative.

The Department of Agriculture previously announced plans to expand the program to **15 million households by the end of 2026**, making the availability of sufficient government rice stocks increasingly important.

Other reports have also documented the expansion of P20 rice in provinces including Pangasinan, Aklan, Ilocos Norte and Sorsogon.

The program therefore faces a delicate balancing act: keeping rice affordable for qualified consumers while ensuring that the NFA maintains enough reserves for food-security needs and continues buying palay from local farmers.

### What Filipinos should watch next

For consumers, the latest NFA statement provides reassurance that the **P20-per-kilo rice program can continue for now**.

But the bigger question will be whether the agency can keep replenishing its warehouses as stocks are released and demand remains strong.

The latest PSA inventory figures show that overall rice stocks have fallen from July, while NFA-depository stocks have also declined.

So while the NFA says **there is enough rice in its warehouses to sustain the P20 program**, continued availability will ultimately depend on procurement, harvest levels, distribution and the government's ability to maintain adequate buffer stocks.

For millions of Filipino families relying on cheaper rice, the promise is welcome—but keeping P20 rice on the shelves will require more than the stocks already sitting inside government warehouses.

### WWC ONE MEDIA G.A