The National Food Authority (NFA) said using 1-metric ton (MT) bags for its palay purchases slashed handling time and costs, providing additional procurement funds.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said a pilot test on the toner bag system at their warehouse in Davao del Sur showed a 75-percent reduction in handling time and a 50 percent cut in handling costs.
‘Work that used to take an hour can now be completed in just 15 minutes, while handling costs are halved. Using tonner bags also allows us to make better use of warehouse space,’ he added.
For Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who chairs the NFA Council, the potential savings could benefit farmers by allowing the grains agency to stretch its procurement budget and buy more palay from them.
‘For our rice farmers, this means we can potentially procure more palay with the same resources. If we can lower handling costs and use our warehouses more efficiently, more of the NFA’s resources can go toward buying palay at a fair market price from our farmers.’
Launched in October 2025, the pilot uses tonner bags in three NFA branches in Nueva Ecija, Occidental Mindoro, and Davao del Sur.
The Davao del Sur trial covers receiving, weighing, handling, and stacking, but excludes milling and distribution, it added.
Each bag is made of woven polypropylene designed to resist moisture and dust. Reinforced lifting loops allow forklifts to move the bags, reducing manual lifting, sack sewing, and stacking, according to the NFA.
‘This is part of our efforts to ensure that our stocks are food-safe and to make NFA operations more efficient and modern,’ Lacson said.
He added that the agency aims to set warehousing standards that the private sector can emulate.
The pilot also found that moisture levels remained within safe limits and spillage was minimal during the observation period. Pest infestation ranged from light to moderate and remained manageable.
The trial, however, identified operational gaps that should be addressed before wider adoption.
These include standardizing fumigation procedures for bulk stacks, testing bag compression and structural strength to establish safe stacking limits, and developing pest-control protocols suited to bulk storage.
The NFA said it would continue monitoring the system and refining its procedures before considering broader implementation.