NFA seeks additional fund as Lando lashes

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) plans to seek a supplemental budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) which would be used to procure palay (unmilled rice) damaged by Typhoon Lando.

NFA administrator Renan Dalisay said the agency is monitoring the adverse effect of the weather disturbance in major rice producing regions of Aurora, Isabela, Bulacan and Pampanga to determine the budget.

Damaged palay pertains to harvested grain dampened by rains. The NFA buys damaged palay for P12 per kilogram for drying in its facilities. It buys clean and dry palay for P17.50 per kilogram.

“We will request (for a supplemental budget). Hopefully it will be released,” Dalisay said.

The agency was last granted a supplemental budget of P203.5 million in 2011 to procure palay damaged by Typhoons Pedring and Quiel.