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Sunday, October 12, 2008

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More Rice for Antique Says NFA

Posted by Philippine Information Agency

San Jose, Antique – A shipment of 60,000 bags representing NFA’s allocation is expected to arrive soon to further boost rice suffiency in the province as part of the preparation for the lean months said OIC Engr. Geraldine H. Maghari.

The latest inventory of the National Food Authority (NFA) showed a combined stocks of 160,289 bags that included households, millers, retailers estimated by NFA to last for 33 days.

The NFA outlets provincewide like Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke, Tindahan Natin and Bigasan sa Parokya have regular allocations and some have asked for additional stocks depending on the demand in their respective areas. Rice outlets have made NFA rice more accessible to consumers at subsidized cost of P18.25 per kilo, the source said.

Under the “Palengke Watch”, the NFA has undertaken constant monitoring of rice prices and supply provincewide. Monitoring teams have been assigned in the markets and outlets to ensure compliance of laws, Maghari said.

NFA Administrator Jessus P. Navarro said the agency will inject in the market some 28 million bags of rice nationwide in the next six months to stabilize supply and preempt any possible spiraling of prices especially during lean months.

Navarro said that for the months of July and August, the NFA will distribute some 6.5 million bags of rice. The volume will be reduced to five million bags in September when the main harvest starts and maintained at three million bags per month as the harvest peaks until December.

The NFA here as part of the on going palay procurement is buying palay from farmers without Passbooks for the first delivery up to 200 bags per farmer at P17.00 per kilo for clean and dry and subsequent deliveries, Passbooks will be required, Maghari explained.

For wet and fresh harvest with up to 26 percent moisture content NFA buys at an adjusted price.