NFA: Iloilo rice supply stable
The National Food Authority-Iloilo has assured Ilonggos of stable rice supply during the lean period that could last until the first week of November.
Hyde Jardeleza, NFA-Iloilo provincial manager, said because of the El Niño, the start of harvest season could extend up to the last week of October or first week of November, instead of the regular harvest season from August to September.
Iloilo province consumes 21,000 bags of rice per day, and she said the NFA has sufficient rice supply this month of 657,700 sacks.
“We have no fear. We have sufficient rice here before the next harvest season,” Jardeleza told The News Today.
Aside from NFA rice, commercial rice sold by traders also augment rice distribution in the province along with rice stocks stored by some households.
Jardeleza said although there is an increase in rice demand outside the province, including in Iloilo City, Negros Occidental, Mindoro and Manila, she does not see the rising grains demand to have a significant effect in Iloilo.
The higher demand outside the province will not trigger increase in prices in Iloilo, she said.
Currently, NFA rice is sold at P 25 per kilo in the 96 NFA licensed and accredited rice outlets in the province.
The NFA also has 250 barangay-based outlets called “Bigasan ng Barangay.”*
