By Kenneth Marcos 
In a quiet warehouse in Digos City, sacks of freshly harvested palay stood neatly in place—not in the usual plastic sacks, but inside large, durable tonner bags. For farmers and warehouse workers alike, this could signal a big shift in how rice is stored, tracked, and moved.
On October 17, 2025, the National Food Authority (NFA) Region XI, through its Davao del Sur Branch, launched a pilot test on the use of tonner bags during its in-warehouse palay procurement operations held at the NFA Compound in San Jose, Digos City.
This test run is part of the NFA’s modernization efforts to improve efficiency, ensure better storage practices, and enhance transparency in the handling of government-procured rice.
What are tonner bags and why use them?
Tonner bags, also known as bulk bags or jumbo sacks, are large containers made of sturdy woven material. These are designed to carry up to one metric ton of palay or rice in one go. Compared to traditional sacks, tonner bags reduce the number of containers needed and can simplify the loading, unloading, and inventory process.
The pilot aimed to test if tonner bags can better withstand handling and storage conditions in NFA warehouses. It also looked into how the bags can improve the tracking of palay stocks and reduce losses due to spillage or mixing of different rice varieties.
Faster, cleaner, and more efficient
According to initial observations from the NFA team, the tonner bags helped streamline warehouse operations, from receiving the palay from farmers to stacking and recording. With fewer bags to handle, workers spent less time sorting and moving the grains, reducing physical strain and potential delays.
The NFA noted that the new system could improve transparency and accountability in procurement. Each tonner bag can be tagged with a barcode or identifier, making it easier to monitor rice stocks and avoid errors in documentation.
Support for farmers remains the top goal
Although the shift in handling methods is internal to NFA, the agency clarified that the ultimate goal is to deliver faster and more reliable service to farmers. Shorter unloading times, clearer records, and better storage could help ensure that farmers get paid quickly and that their harvest is stored properly.
NFA officials emphasized that this pilot is still in the testing stage. Feedback from warehouse staff, field inspectors, and local farmers will be collected and reviewed before any wider implementation is rolled out.
Modernizing for food security
The NFA’s move to try out tonner bags is part of a broader effort to modernize the agency and strengthen the country’s food security. As the Philippines continues to face challenges in rice supply and inflation, better systems in post-harvest handling and storage can play a crucial role.
For now, farmers and NFA workers in Digos City are hopeful that these changes, no matter how technical, will bring real benefits on the ground.
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