By Kenneth Marcos 
In rice warehouses across the country, staff from the National Food Authority (NFA) are undergoing intensive training—not just to store grain, but to guarantee quality rice reaches Filipino tables.
With rising food prices and increasing demand for affordable rice, the NFA is stepping up efforts to make sure the rice it distributes is clean, safe, and of high quality, especially for beneficiaries of government food programs.
NFA Administrator Larry R. Lacson ordered all regional offices to strengthen their knowledge and skills in palay (unhusked rice) procurement, storage, and quality control.
A Push for Better Rice, Not Just More Rice
“Buying palay is not enough. We must ensure it’s stored properly and milled carefully, so that the rice we distribute is of the best quality possible,” said Lacson in a directive to NFA staff.
The move comes as part of the agency’s broader commitment to support local farmers while ensuring the public receives quality rice through programs such as Kadiwa ng Pangulo, school feeding, and disaster response relief.
Each bag of rice that comes out of NFA warehouses must meet national food safety standards. This includes being free from mold, foul odor, or signs of poor storage, which are common complaints in previous years.
Modernizing Storage and Inspection
According to the NFA, trainings cover proper grading and classification of palay, moisture content checks, pest prevention, and cold storage techniques where available.
Employees are also being trained to spot signs of spoilage early and to monitor the first-in, first-out system in warehouses to prevent old stocks from being released.
Several provinces, including Isabela, Iloilo, Bohol, Davao del Sur, and Zamboanga del Norte, have already started training sessions in their local NFA offices. More regions are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
This quality push aligns with the administration’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas”, where food security and government service delivery are being improved through training, transparency, and technology.
What This Means for the Public
For the average Filipino family relying on NFA rice during hard times—especially during calamities or food inflation—this renewed focus on quality is a welcome move.
“Masarap na bigas, hindi amoy alikabok o bulok—‘yan ang gusto naming maranasan,” said a mother from Pampanga who regularly buys NFA rice through a Kadiwa outlet.
If properly implemented, the new quality assurance efforts could restore public trust in NFA rice, which has sometimes drawn criticism in the past for inconsistency in quality.
Accountability and Public Service
Administrator Lacson reminded all personnel that every sack of rice carries public trust, and each NFA worker has a role in upholding it.
The agency also encourages the public to report any substandard NFA rice distributed in their areas through their regional offices or official contact lines.
This initiative is part of the broader goal to transform the NFA into a more responsive, compassionate, and reliable public agency, in line with its commitment to “Serbisyong Tapat at Serbisyong Pantas.”
As the country moves toward greater food self-sufficiency, ensuring every grain of rice is safe and of high quality is more than a technical task—it’s a promise to the people.
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