NFA nears completion of disposal of damaged rice
Days from now, residents living near the National Food Authority (NFA) compound at Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro would no longer suffer the foul odor coming from the damaged rice stocks as the NFA nears completion of its disposal.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said the NFA through its Provincial Manager Hedy Jardeleza told him that they expect to finish the disposal of damage rice stocks by end of July. The agency has hired some 30-50 men to fast track the disposal of the water-soaked rice. Some of the personnel even backed out from their work because of the stinking smell.
Treñas said the City Health Office (CHO) has been monitoring the conditions of the residents to address whatever health problems might occur in relation to the decomposing bags of rice. The residents and employees of the NFA were advised to wear mask to protect themselves from the stinking smell.
The NFA used chemical odor buster to minimize the odor coming from the damaged rice.
Jardeleza said, the agency wants to make sure that no people or scavengers will retrieve the damaged rice stocks and eat. The authorized organic fertilizer manufacturers are only the ones who could withdraw damaged rice stocks from the NFA warehouse. It is not fit for human consumption.
The partly damaged rice stocks are also subjected to laboratory examination to determine if it is fit for animal feeds. The NFA is very cautious that no damaged rice stocks will reach the different public markets for human consumption, said Jardeleza.