ABSTRACT

Rice production had always received a great deal of public attention in the Philippines. By 1976, the Philippines had achieved self sufficiency in rice. President Marcos called the new rice development program "a program for national survival". High priority was assigned to this program by the President who declared that self-sufficiency in the production of food should be attained in the shortest possible time. In 1968, the government announced that self-sufficiency in rice had been achieved and that a part of the surplus was being exported to other countries. The support price for rice administered by the newly created National Grains Authority was to be constantly reviewed and adjusted so that it continually served as an incentive to increase production. The launching of M-99 in 1973 once again restored the focus on rice and National Food and Agriculture Council had to reorganise itself to perform its role as the nodal policy making and implementing body for the rice program.