(Eagle News) – The Philippine government ordered the release of some 4.6 million bags of rice from the warehouses of the National Food Authority to retailers in public markets as well as in grocery stores as part of its immediate measures to address food supply issues.
This was revealed by the government’s economic managers who assured the public that there would be adequate food supply in the country as vegetables and other food products, including fish and fruits would be airlifted to areas severely affected by typhoon Ompong.
The Department of Finance said that the rate of price increases averaged at 4.8 percent in the first eight months this year, higher than the government’s two to four percent target band until 2020.
This was traced to faster inflation rate of basic commodities like rice, fish, meat, and vegetables due to supply issues.
Thus, economic authorities have put in place nine measures seen to address supply issues, it said.
These measures include the release of some 4.6 million bags of rice from the warehouses of the NFA to retailers and the establishment of an inter-agency surveillance and monitoring team that will ensure that rice from the ports are directly delivered to the NFA warehouses and retailers without delay or fraud.
Other measures include the reduction of gap between farm gate prices and retail prices of chicken; the opening by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) of sugar importation to direct users to moderate costs for consumers; and for the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to prioritize the release of essential food items at the ports.
-NFA releases 32,000 bags of rice to relief agencies and LGUs –
The National Food Authority (NFA) said it had already released a total of 32,391 bags of rice to relief agencies and local government units (LGUs) in regions 1 to 5 and Metro Manila for distribution to victims of typhoon Ompong as of Tuesday, September 18.
While initial releases to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were already recorded as early as Friday, September 14, before the landfall of typhoon Ompong, local government units, DSWD, and other relief agencies sought more rice from NFA after the storm left thousands of Filipinos homeless and millions worth of crops and properties destroyed.
The NFA National Capital Region which supplies the main office of DSWD reported to have released at least 15,030 bags to DSWD, 753 bags for LGUs, and another 250 bags for other relief agencies.
In region 1, a total of 8,158 bags of rice were also issued by NFA, with 4,404 going to DSWD; 3,240 to different LGUs, and 494 to other agencies. La Union (3,701 bags), Pangasinan (2,390 bags), and Benguet (1,230 bags) reported the highest rice issuances per province.
In region 02, most of the 2,594 bags issued were withdrawn by the provincial and several municipal LGUs for relief operations. NFA Officials in the region said they are expecting more withdrawals later when the relief packs from DSWD are already consumed. Before typhoon Ompong landed in Cagayan Valley, NFA-NCR deployed an additional 6,000 bags of rice to boost supplies in Region 2.
In region 3, a total of 1644 bags of NFA rice were released and distributed in the following provinces: Aurora – 294 bags; Bataan – 100 bags; Nueva Ecija – 150 bags; Pampanga – 550 bags ; Tarlac – 400 bags, and; Zambales – 150 bags.
In region 4, a total of 2,605 bags of rice were withdrawn by LGUs and DSWD while NFA in region 5 issued 1,357 bags to different LGUs, including 100 bags to Sen. Chiz Escudero in Sorsogon.
“With the damage being so severe, particularly among farmers in the northern part of Luzon, more relief operations are expected in the coming days. NFA Operations Centers in the affected regions are still monitoring the situation and always ready to provide quick response to any rice needs for typhoon victims,” a statement from the NFA said.
“Aside from ensuring that there is enough supply for calamity victims, NFA continues to sell its P27 and P32/kig rice through its 15,892 accredited rice retail outlets in public markets and barangays nationwide,” it added.
NFA said its offices are now also “selling rice directly to consumers in provinces heavily affected by Ompong like Cagayan, Isabela, and Kalinga to provide additional outlets for consumers who want to avail of NFA rice.”
“Tagpuan Rice Response Delivery” (TRRD), the NFA rice distribution program in partnership with accredited operators and LGUs to serve marginalized consumers especially the indigenous people in remote barangays and resettlement areas around the country will also continue immediately after road access to remote areas are cleared, the NFA added.
(with a PNA report and NFA release)
