NFA: One-ton bag use cuts palay handling time from 1 hour to just 15 minutes

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The National Food Authority's (NFA) pilot test on the use of one-ton flexible bags has showed significant results, slashing the handling time of palay (unhusked rice) from an hour to only 15 minutes.

The pilot test last October 2025 used so-called tonner bags that can hold a metric ton of palay, which can replace the traditional 50-kilogram sacks. The tonner bags are made of woven polypropylene designed to resist moisture and dust, the NFA said.

“Our pilot test 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,” said NFA administrator Larry Lacson in a statement.

The test was conducted in three NFA branches in Nueva Ecija, Occidental Mindoro, and Davao del Sur.

The NFA said the modern rice bags are designed for forklift handling, which reduced manual lifting, sack sewing, and stacking.

“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.

The initial trial showed that moisture remained at safe levels with negligible spillage, while pest infestation was kept minimal to moderate and fully under control, the NFA said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the use of modern one-ton bags could lead to more rice procurements to help farmers.

“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,” said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Despite the positive results of the trial, authorities are looking forward to improve storage safety and pest control for palay stocks. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News