Antique has stable supply of sugar, rice
SAN JOSE, Antique — Amidst growing concern for limited supply of sugar and rice due to long dry spell, National Food Authority reported that Antique has stable supply of both.
Gladdys Gallano, Information Officer of NFA Antique, said that the province has stable supply of sugar at P35.00 per kilo of raw sugar and P51.00 a kilo of refined sugar based on the recent market monitoring done by their field personnel.
NFA Antique has no allocation of imported sugar since the supply in the market is adequate.
Gallano further noted that Antique is a muscovado sugar producing province, and some consumers have shifted to muscovado instead of raw or refined sugar for some reasons like the price is quite cheaper and its health value.
For supply of rice, Antique has sufficient supply of 367,985.49 kilos (inventory from households, government and private) good for 75.72 days and ongoing procurement is being done to ensure a buffer stock come lean months.
NFA rice is still sold at P18.25 a kilo at 48 Tindahan Natin and 19 Bigasan sa Parokya outlets provincewide where beneficiaries are masterlisted by DSWD under indigent program while Bigasan sa Palengke sells NFA rice at P25.00 a kilo open to all consumers.
To maintain a buffer stock of rice, NFA is continuously undertaking a procurement of palay at P17.70 a kilo, much higher than of commercial trade at P16.00 per kilo.
Engr. Gil Ibarra, Manager, NFA Antique enjoined farmers to sell their palay at NFA not only to avail of higher price but also to help the province and country in general attain food security. (PS Mabaquiao/PIA)
