July 3, 2025

 

Philippines' Department of Agriculture to start buying white, yellow corn in 2026

 

 

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to start procuring white and yellow corn next year, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on July 1.

 

This comes after Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced the resumption of corn buying by the National Food Authority (NFA), which is under the DA, during a dialogue with Gawad Saka awardees in Nueva Ecija on June 30.

 

"What we planned is white corn. We will buy more of white corn, and of course, a little volume of yellow corn," Tiu Laurel said in an interview.

 

He said white corn could reduce the demand for rice as it is considered a good "substitute" or "alternative" for the country's main staple.

 

"We still have a lot of areas in the Philippines that consume corn grits. At least, this could decrease the demand for rice," he said.

 

For the planned procurement, at least ₱500 million (US$8.62 million) to ₱1 billion (US$17.24 million) will be requested for the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

 

Tiu Laurel, meanwhile, said the NFA's buying price for corn has yet to be finalised. He, however, said it would be higher than the corn's current production cost.

 

In a separate interview, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel De Mesa said the major corn-producing areas in the country include Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen.

 

"The cost of corn (production) in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) is ₱10.05 (US$0.17) to ₱10.20 (US$0.18). Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) is up to ₱13.20 (US$0.23). And Region 12 (Soccsksargen) ranges from ₱11 (US$0.19) to ₱12 (US$0.21)," he said.

 

Once implemented anew, the NFA has 134 newly refurbished warehouses to cater to the volume of incoming corn supply from local farmers, alongside the expected average stock levels of rice amid the continuous rollout of the "Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na" or the sale of aging but good quality rice stocks at ₱20 (US$0.34) per kg to the vulnerable sector and minimum wage earners.

 

DA officials, meanwhile, said the procurement of corn has a legal basis, considering it has been part of the previous functions of the NFA.

 

"It's in the original charter of the NFA. The original charter has not been amended. But we are looking into that," Tiu Laurel said.

 

"Historically, NFA also buys corn… they have funds allocated for corn. So, it's not just unhusked rice that they are buying," De Mesa added.

 

The NFA, created under Presidential Decree 4 on Sept. 26, 1972, with the name, National Grains Authority (NGA), previously covered the regulation, development, and promotion of the grains industry.

 

Under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), however, its functions were refocused on the acquisition, maintenance, and distribution of rice buffer stocks.

 

- PNA