FILE PHOTO: The low-priced regular milled rice from the Nueva Ecija Rice Millers Association
MANILA, Philippines — After rice traders from Luzon kept their promise to provide cheaper rice supply in the markets of Metro Manila, the National Food Authority (NFA) will meet next with rice millers and traders of Visayas and Mindanao.
This is to discuss the possibility of implementing the same program in the regions.
However, according to Grain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (Grecon), they will study first the feasibility of its implementation since there are areas in Visayas and Mindanao where the prices of rice are already lower.
Moreover, the traders always consider the high-buying price of rice in an area before sending supplies.
For now, the group is focusing on Luzon just as they promised President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Grecon, they expect that on Thursday, April 19, commercial rice priced at P39 per kilo will be distributed to markets in Metro Manila.
The rice stocks will come from Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan.
The group of millers clarified that the rice they deliver are newly-milled and if there are cheaper variants being sold in the market, those did not come from them.
“Mga lumang bigas yun ng mga traders ng ibang mga nagtitinda. Yung ibinibigay namin yung talagang pang serbisyo doon para sa commitment namin kay president,” Grecon national president Jaime Magbanua said.
(Those are old rice supplies from traders of other retailers. What we are offering is for public service, in keeping with our commitment to the president.)
Meanwhile, according to Magbanua, President Duterte has returned the National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Philippine Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority under the supervision of the agriculture department.
Malacañang has confirmed the revamp.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, this was discussed by the NFA Council with the president last night.
The NFA said they are ready to cooperate with whichever department they will be under.
“Wala namang problema sa amin kung saan kami under. Ang importante maayos natin itong ating issue na kakulangan sa buffer stock ng NFA,” said NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez.
(It’s not an issue with us what department we’ll be under. What’s important is addressing the deficiency in NFA’s buffer stock.) — Rey Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue
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