ILOILO City, Bacolod City, and several municipalities in Negros Occidental have reported extraordinary rice price hikes, prompting the National Food Authority (NFA) to decide on an emergency intervention – the distribution of government rice stocks to these areas.
But while releasing NFA rice provides immediate relief to consumers, it is a temporary measure. It does not solve the underlying problems that drive prices upward — problems that include supply chain inefficiencies, dependency on external rice sources, limited local production capacities, and inadequate support for local rice farmers.
There is a need to address the chronic rice price volatility through sustainable, long-term strategies. Local governments must look deeper and implement strategies that address the underlying causes of these frequent price fluctuations.
In Bacolod City, the local government is prepared to purchase 8,000 bags of government rice at subsidized prices. While this provides immediate relief, the city’s reliance on government stocks underscores vulnerability in local food security management. Iloilo City and Negros Occidental face similar issues, with the NFA holding a limited buffer stock of 52,000 bags region-wide — a reserve that could quickly diminish should another crisis strike.
Long-term solutions must be prioritized, such as investing in local rice production, enhancing irrigation facilities, and supporting farmer cooperatives in Western Visayas. The government should also streamline supply chains to eliminate unnecessary costs and encourage competition among rice traders. Agricultural programs that provide incentives for farmers and attract young people to agriculture will ensure sustainability and stability in rice production, mitigating the region’s dependency on emergency interventions.
Moreover, transparency in rice trading and strong anti-hoarding measures are important to prevent artificial shortages. Local governments must actively monitor rice market activities to ensure unscrupulous traders do not exploit vulnerabilities.
The current rice price crisis is a wake-up call for Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and Negros Occidental to move beyond temporary fixes. Securing food stability requires strategic foresight, consistent investments, and collaborative governance—only then can we truly protect consumers from the volatility of rice prices and secure food for future generations.
