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

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.

With the adoption of one-tonner bags, the NFA estimates a 30-percent increase in warehouse capacity, pointing out that these are more compact compared to traditional 50-kilogram sacks.

“‘Yung initial na nakita natin [is] 30%... increase in capacity dahil mas compact siya unlike yung mga 50 [kilogram sacks] maraming mga ika nga awang in between sako, ito makikita ninyo yung picture talagang compact na compact,” Lacson said on November 2 on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(The initial estimate we saw is a 30% increase in capacity because it is more compact. Unlike the 50-kilogram sacks, which leave many gaps in between, you can see in the picture that these are extremely compact.)

According to Lacson, instructions have already been issued for a nationwide rollout, adding that the agency aims to implement the system in at least 45 additional warehouses.

“Kaya lang pinaghahandaan lang natin ito dahil ang bawat warehouse na magpapatupad nito ay kailangan ng forklift, kaya ngayon bumibili tayo ng mga forklift,” Lacson noted.

(However, we are still making preparations because every warehouse implementing this will need a forklift. That’s why we are currently procuring forklifts.)

He added that the agency has also procured tonner bags in preparation for expanding the system to other warehouses across the country.—Vince Angelo Ferreras and Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News