10% decrease in daily rice distribution will not affect rice supply - NFA

VIRAC, Catanduanes, March 26 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) provincial office here assured that the decrease by 10 percent in the daily rice distribution will have a small impact on local rice supply primarily because this is harvest season.

According to NFA provincial manager Oscar Tubalinal, said decrease will have a negligible impact since it coincides with the ongoing harvest of palay in the province and also due to the reason that the Virac Public Market retailers of rice are not included in the said cut down which accounts for majority of daily rice withdrawals.

The regulated rice distribution is in compliance with the directive of NFA Administrator Angelito Banayo ordering all offices in the provinces to maintain food security stocks at any given time.

The order was issued in view of the NFA's current supply situation considering the very limited imports and prevailing market situation.

The 1,000 bags usual daily distribution was reduced to 900 bags, a reduce of 100 bags which according to NFA is insignificant due to the current ample supply of rice.

Moreover, Catanduanes was allocated a total of 200,000 bags of NFA rice for 2012 wherein only 24,000 has been delivered since January 2012 which is due to the inability of mainland millers to cope with NFA requirements. (MAL/EAB-PIA 5, Catanduanes)