Metro Manila mayors pledged to support the Department of Agriculture (DA) in expanding its affordable rice distribution network, ensuring vulnerable communities gain faster access to reasonably priced staple food.

On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. met with the Metro Manila Council (MMC), led by council president and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, to outline strategies for the planned distribution National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks.

“We are grateful to the DA for allowing us to be part of this initiative,” Mayor Zamora said. “Our role is to ensure affordable rice reaches communities quickly. Metro Manila LGUs are ready to bridge this gap.”

The program, under the KADIWA ng Pangulo’s Rice-for-All initiative, offers NFA rice at just P38 per kilo, targeting low-income households. Currently, the NFA holds 300,000 metric tons of rice in stock.

Chairman Artes reassured the public that the program would not be used for political purposes. “This is about serving the people, not politics,” Artes stressed, addressing concerns over potential manipulation of rice distribution by local officials.

Sec. Tiu Laurel highlighted the importance of selling existing rice stocks to prepare for the upcoming harvest season in February. “By clearing storage space now, we ensure fair prices for farmers’ palay when the new harvest comes in,” he said.

The MMC’s commitment aligns with DA’s broader mission of ensuring food security and stabilizing rice prices amid rising costs.

As the distribution network expands, communities across Metro Manila can look forward to improved access to affordable rice, further reinforcing food security for the region’s most vulnerable populations, Sec. Tiu Laurel said. ###