DA targets corn procurement as rice substitute by 2026

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting to purchase stocks of corn to supplement its rice supply by 2026.

During an ambush interview on Tuesday, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency intends to purchase white corn and yellow corn to produce corn grits as rice alternatives.

“It’s because it’s for food… Madami pa tayong area sa Pilipinas na kumakain talaga ng corn grits. At least, subukan natin pababain ang demand ng bigas,” he said.

(It’s because it’s for food… We have a lot of areas in the Philippines where people have corn grits as part of their diet. At least, we should try lowering the demand for rice.)

Laurel shared that the budget request for the acquisition was included in the DA’s General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2026.

“Hopefully, mabigyan kami ng konti at least to start the ball rolling. Maybe P500 million to P1 billion [ang starting budget],” he added.

(Hopefully, we would be granted even a bit at least to start the ball rolling. [A starting budget] of maybe P500 million to P1 billion.)

The DA said the procured corn will be placed in its 134 newly refurbished National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses with their P20-per-kilo rice stocks.

“Pag tumakbo na ang ating P20 na launch [para sa bigas] at tuloy tuloy yan, mababawasan na yung average stock level ng ating mga warehouses sa bigas. So, meron nang room diyan,” said Laurel.

(Once our P20 launch [for rice] begins and continues, the average stock level of rice in our warehouses will lessen. So, there will now be room.)

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited two of the aforementioned 134 warehouses in San Idelfonso, Bulacan for an inspection and to hold a dialogue with rice farmers in the province.

The NFA has said that it will be opening Kadiwa Stores for the roll-out of the P20-per-kilo rice grains, and are targeting the nationwide implementation of the program by 2026. —RF, GMA Integrated News