Iloilo is secured by 1.06 million bags of rice

The government through the National Food Authority (NFA) here makes certain that rice supply is very sufficient.

Every month,  NFA conducts monitoring of rice supply from the government, commercial and household sectors and the current inventory showed that Iloilo province has l.06 million  bags of rice. This was revealed by NFA provincial manager Hedy  G. Jardeleza in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency.

“The province's daily consumption requirement is l7,600 bags more or less. And we have enough supply for the next two months requirement . Also, we are preparing for the forthcoming lean months, we see to it that we have a buffer stock”, Manager Jardeleza said in the same PIA interview.

Acting on President Arroyo's  directive to ensure that rice sold by the NFA remains affordable and accessible to the poor in bracing for the adverse effects of high oil prices,  Jardeleza said that  government rice will be made available at its current price levels through its various accredited outlets here.

Commercial rice, if regular milled she said is sold at P21 to P22.00 per kilo  and P24 to P25.00 for well-milled rice; while the government rice is sold at Pl6.00/kilo and Pl8.00 for the imported rice.

Presently, Iloilo province has 80 NFA outlets called. Bigasang Bayan . Iloilo City has l7 outlets located in Arevalo (l); three  in central market; 4 at the terminal market; five in Jaro small and Jaro big markets; 3 in Lapaz and one in the Iloilo Supermart.

The NFA-Iloilo Manager, also announced that  l20,000 bags of imported Vietnam rice has arrived and of this figure some 35,000 bags will be sent to Capiz province.

“Food security stocks ta ini” (this will serve now us our food security stocks) explains Jardeleza, pointing out that as the lean months approach and in the event of emergency and calamity during rainy seasons,  the province has a ready supply to flood the market of the needed staple food.

Jardeleza also appealed to the public to be vigilant in order to prevent unscrupulous businessmen to convert or re-bag the government rice into commercial rice. She warned that appropriate sanction will be imposed to them if found taking advantage of the situation.

When asked why the importation was made when in fact Iloilo has a very good rice production output, Jardeleza explained that our commercial rice supply help plug the production shortfall of other regions in the country.  NFA, she said has a Marketing plan that  sizes up  on a national scale how much supply the government needs to ensure food security.

“So if there is gap between the supply and the projected demand, the government must therefore fill in that gap through rice importation . It likewise insure food security and will enable to stabilize rice prices,” Jardeleza explained. (PIA/T . Villavert)