philippine news

Government to cut NFA subsidy

Iris C. Gonzales
Philippine Star

The government is inclined to slash the subsidies given to the National Food Authority (NFA) and instead increase the subsidies given to other sectors.

Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul Jr. said the department agreed with… Read the rest

UN food agency to help monitor distribution of rice in RP

Philippine Star

The United Nations yesterday said it would help monitor the distribution of government-subsidized rice in the country to make sure that it reaches the people who need it most.

UN resident coordinator Nileema Noble assured the Philippine government,… Read the rest

(Agriculture department reacts to our editorial) PGMA reversed wrong rice policy

Berni Fondevilla
Manila Times

While it may be true—as you pointed out in your July 2 editorial “A second Green Revolution”—that post-Marcos “Philippine administrations subsequently relegated rice production from state priorities,” such official neglect was reversed when the Arroyo… Read the rest

Rice prices ease as NFA floods market

Marianne V. Go
Philippine Star

Commercial rice prices have stabilized as a result of selective bombardment of state-subsidized stocks in the market, Bureau of Agriculture Statistics director Romeo Recide said.

In a report to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Recide… Read the rest

Conversion not enough to impact rice production

Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has a total land area of 30 million hectares, of which 13 million are devoted to agriculture (food grains like corn and rice; food crops like coconut and sugarcane; and… Read the rest

The future of food: What should we do in the Philippines?

Felicito C. Payumo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DURING the last 50 years, thanks to research and advances in technology, farmers and ranchers were able to increase the world food supply faster than the growth of human population.

But in the… Read the rest

Government hopes to trim NFA deficit to P35.8B this year

Iris C. Gonzales
Philippine Star

The government hopes to trim the deficit of the National Food Authority (NFA) to P35.8 billion this year from an expected deficit of P43.1 billion, Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul Jr.

Paul said the deficit… Read the rest

RP has enough rice supply beyond 2008 – Yap

Edith Regalado
Philippine Star

DAVAO CITY – Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap assured the people yesterday that there is sufficient rice supply to last even beyond the end of the year.

“We have more than enough supply of rice that… Read the rest

Palace asks private firms to extend rice allowance

Manila standard

PRESIDENT Arroyo has ordered the National Food Authority, the state-run grain importer, to encourage large companies to fill their employees’ rice needs in the face of tight rice supplies and soaring commodity prices.

In an executive order she… Read the rest

Malacañang gives up rice to private sector

Angelo S. Samonte, Reporter
Manila Times

President Gloria Arroyo issued an order early this month that encourages large firms to provide rice for their employees through production or importation. She said either corporate step will help cushion the impact… Read the rest

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