RP rice stock enough - NFA

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) reported it has a total stockpile of 25.2 million bags of rice, enough to cover 36 days of the country’s total demand based on 708,000 bags daily consumption requirement.

The commercial and household stocks, meanwhile, stand at 7.4 million and 14.5 million, respectively, placing the country’s total grains inventory at 57.3 million bags to further meet the country’s rice requirement for the next 67 days.

The NFA likewise said it has issued a total of 34,618 bags of rice to government relief agencies, local government units and legislators doing relief operations and assisting victims of tropical storm Ondoy.

NFA administrator Jessup P. Navarro explained that out of the total volume issued, 30,955 bags of rice were directly given to government agencies doing relief operations such as the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and several legislators.

Navarro said the rest went to non-government organizations helping people affected by the typhoon.

Among the recipients of rice issuances was Region III which received a total of 6,495 bags and Region IV with 4,265 bags. 

The agency has also issued 5,000 bags of rice to Rep. Laarni Cayetano and 3,116 bags to Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. which were charged to their respective Priority Development Assistance Program (PDAP).

For this year, the NFA has already issued a cumulative total of 105,367  bags of NFA rice for relief operations.

Rice requests for relief operations were either paid in cash or covered by a memorandum of agreement (MOA) particularly with the government agencies involved in relief assistance.

As part of the agency’s policy during calamities and emergencies, the NFA also maintains a 24-hour operation of its Central Office Operation Center (OPCEN) to monitor requests for relief assistance and ensure smooth coordination between NFA warehouses and the agencies withdrawing rice.

“The NFA warehouses were kept open even during the height of the typhoon on Saturday to ensure rice withdrawals for relief operations would be properly attended”, Navarro said.

At the same time, he emphasized the NFA has sufficient food security stocks in its warehouses to ensure stable supply of the basic staple at affordable price particularly in areas heavily affected by calamities.

“The NFA has the capability to address anytime any possible upsurge in demand for the staple,” he added.