Nelson Morales

Rice vendors sell NFA rice in a market in Quezon City on June 26, 2018 after a shortage of the said varriant. The National Food Authority recently regained stock of government-subsidized rice after months of shortage. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Philippines has enough buffer stock amid global uncertainties, calamities – NFA

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The country has enough buffer stocks of rice amid global uncertainties and surging prices of petroleum products, the National Food Authority said on Wednesday.  NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that the country currently has 8 million bags of milled rice that can last up to 10.3 days. Of this, 2 million bags are ready for distribution, Lacson said.The agency is also ensuring that areas with abundant supplies can augment stocks in other areas.“Iyong malalaki ang production na lugar like Region I, Region II, Region III, Region IV, sila iyong mga nag-o-augment, sa NCR hanggang Cebu ay nag-o-augment sila,” he said. To ensure that the country has enough supplies for calamities and emergencies, the agency is not allocating all of its stocks for the P20 per kilo rice program.“We don’t let our stocks na talagang mabenta lahat sa ‘Benteng Bigas’ na mabilisan kung saan magkakaroon naman tayo ng problema for calamities and emergency responses. It’s part of our mandate. It’s part of our strategy na balansiyadong-balansiyado iyan,” Lacson stated. Rice prices have risen by around P2 per kilo in some areas recently, with traders citing the higher cost of fuel. The Department of Agriculture has said that it is looking to cap the prices of imported rice to prevent traders from taking advantage of rising fuel prices to jack up food costs.

The country has enough buffer stocks of rice amid global uncertainties and surging prices of petroleum products, the National Food Authority said on Wednesday.

The country has enough buffer stocks of rice amid global uncertainties and surging prices of petroleum products, the National Food Authority said on Wednesday.