DINALUPIHAN, Bataan – The National Food Authority (NFA) this morning assured the public of sufficient rice supply for the whole country this year.
The assurance was made by NFA Administrator Renan Dalisay in an interview with the Bataan press after inspecting several rice dealers at the Dinalupihan Public Market and NFA warehouses nearby.
Dalisay was joined by local NFA officials and staff led by Adelaida Nuestro, provincial manager of NFA Bataan and local officials led by Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia.
“Nag iikot po tayo sa buong bansa, Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao para mamonitor natin ang presyo ng commercial rice at ang availability at accessibility ng NFA rice. So far ok naman ngayon, sufficient,” Dalisay told newsmen.
The provincial government of Bataan is one of the biggest buyers of NFA rice in the province especially during the typhoon season. “So far ok naman ang supply natin ng NFA rice. Ito rin po an pinapakain natin sa mga malnourished children sa ating mga feeding programs,” Mayor Garcia said.
Various rice dealers in the area also said that more consumers are buying NFA rice not just because of its much cheaper price but also of its good quality. “Minsan nakakabenta ako ng sampu hanggang beinte cavans (sacks) ng NFA rice sa isang araw,” says Conrado Sebastian, rice dealer and provincial president of rice dealers association.
NFA rice are priced 27 pesos and 32 pesos per kilo as compared to commercial rice that ranges from 35 to almost 50 pesos a kilo. Dalisay also said that during lean months like the month of July onwards, the agency imports rice from other countries for their buffer stocks.
