The Department of Agriculture on Thursday ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) to triple corn procurement as part of the government’s strategy to counter the effects of the looming price crash of the grain and to support Filipino farmers.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said he instructed the authority’s administrator, Jessup Navarro, to increase the corn-grain buying target from 100,000 metric tons to 300,000 metric tons.
“We have funds for this,” Yap said, adding that President Gloria Arroyo had approved the increase of procurement when he proposed it in a Cabinet meeting.
He also instructed the Food authority to look for new ways to expand support for local corn farmers.
The secretary then ordered the GMA-National Corn Program, headed by Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo, to implement projects to help corn farmers. The program will include the completion nationwide of some 35 corn centers that have post-harvest facilities for drying and storage.
Yap said good quality, clean and dry corn grains from legitimate farmer groups were bought P12.30 a kilo, which includes P0.70 incentives.
He also denied allegation that the Agriculture department was responsible for the massive importation of corn that affect the local prices of the crop.
Even if the government allowed importation, it was still in accordance with the minimum access volume, or MAV, he explained. “The MAV for corn is pegged at 216,940 MT [metric ton], and based on our records we’ve only used up about 96,812.213 MT.”
This importation was made during a shortage in corn, he said.
Feed wheat
Critics have also argued that the department allowed the importation of feed wheat and the removal of its tariff.
But Yap denied the story. “The DA [Department of Agriculture] did not allow importation of feed wheat nor support the removal of its tariff from 7 percent to 0 percent. The department is not in a position to do so.”
Yap explained that the department was merely a member of the Cabinet Committee on Tariff and Related Matters and was only following the normal procedures. “I, personally, did not support the move as I believe it will affect the corn industry and more importantly the farmers.” –Ira Karen Apanay, Senior Reporter, Manila Times
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July –
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
15 July – World Youth Skills Day
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against
Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
