The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Masagana Agri-Food Infrastructure Modernization (MAFIM) program, has completed the rehabilitation of six out of ten National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses across Region II—a key step in strengthening the country’s grain storage and food security system.
In Isabela, three rehabilitated warehouses—in Burgos, Roxas, and Tumauini—can collectively store up to 148,000 50-kilo bags of rice. Facilities in Bagabag and Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya hold a total of 160,620 bags, while the Alfonso Lista and Lagawe warehouses in Ifugao can accommodate 28,880 bags combined.
Key upgrades include the replacement of deteriorated roofs, wall reinforcements, new ventilation systems, stronger flooring, and improved pest control mechanisms. These improvements ensure safer, more resilient storage, especially vital during calamities or supply disruptions.
As of June 13, NFA Isabela has a buffer stock equivalent to 437,585 bags of rice, enough to cover consumption of the area for 34 days. The average yield of rice fields in Isabela is around 41 percent higher than national average at 5.8 metric tons per hectare. ### (Photos by Jay Morales, DA-AFID)
