NFA Aklan Assures Enough Rice Supply

By JUDITH T. TINDOG

STOCK OF RICE AT NFA Grains Center Warehouse, Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan.

The National Food Authority – Aklan assures the consuming public there’s enough supply of rice available in the market. Aklan has a good source from the government warehouse, the commercial sector which includes the millers, wholesalers, retailers and the households.
The N-F-A rice in various accredited sales outlets province-wide is sold at P18.00 per kilogram only. Accredited sales outlets include Accredited Rice Retailers Inside the Market (45 outlets), and Outside the Market (15 outlets), Accredited Cooperative Retailers (14 outlets), TGL-BIGASAN NI GLORIA (1 outlet) and TINDAHAN NATIN (80 Operators). Moreover, the end consumer can also buy through the DIRECT SELLING scheme implemented by the NFA office. They may go directly to the NFA office in Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan to buy in cash the one (1) bag of rice of 50 kilogram at P900.00/bag. The Direct Selling scheme can be availed of once a month for household consumption only.
In the recent meeting with the provincial governor, Hon. Carlito S. Marquez, the N-F-A represented by OIC/SGOO Virgilio Escalona together with the Office of Provincial Agriculturist represented by Mr. Delano Tefora, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics represented by Mr. Manuelito Delegencia, Department of Social Welfare and Development represented by Mrs. Elma Malbas discussed the rice situation in Aklan. The body discussed the demand and supply of rice in the local market. The report about the rice inventory of Aklan presented by the N-F-A, OPA, and BAS during the meeting assured that Aklan with an estimated daily consumption of 208,000 kilograms is rice secured.
Meanwhile, the distribution of Iron Fortified Rice (IFR) in line with the implementation of The Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 or R.A. 8976 is ongoing for the consuming public and is made available through various NFA accredited sales outlets in Aklan at P18.00 per kilogram.
In view of the reported increase in the prices of commercial rice, the NFA headed by Mgr. Pablito Gemarino checks on the active participation of the accredited rice retailers in Aklan to make government rice available and accessible to the public particularly to the low income consumers.
To ensure an orderly grainsbusiness transaction province-wide, the local office intensifies the ‘Palengke Watch’ and the implementation of grains rice trade regulations under the Philippine Grains Standardization Program. The local office conducts enforcement activity to check the facility requirement of the grainsbusiness such as prescribed signboards, prescribed price tag, calibrated weighing scales, rice box painted white; observance of standard packaging and labeling, proper pricing and selling of government rice. The enforcement team conducts market rounds for the benefit of the grainsbusinessmen and the protection of the buying public. /MP