Millers: CV lacks white corn supply

There is sufficient supply of rice but there is a shortage of white corn not only in the region but also in the whole country, according to the Cebu Millers Association.

Nestor Tiu of the Cebu Millers Association said that supply of white corn has been deficient in the region.

Tiu said that Central Visayas is an importing region of white corn and it gets its supply from neighboring areas like Mindanao, which is also suffering from deficient supply mainly due to weather changes brought about by global warming and partly by the conversion of corn plantations to fruit plantations.

Retailers get their corn from suppliers from Mindanao, specifically from Bukidnon, Davao and Cotabato.

Liu said the corn shortage and the increase in corn prices forced 30 retailers in Carbon market to stop selling corn grits. But he said he does not believe the retailers are hoarding corn because corn spoils easily.

Tiu also said that the price of corn in the region is also increasing.  Last January it rose from P10 to P16 a kilo and again from P16 to P26 per kilo as of yesterday.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority has assured the public that there is sufficient supply of rice in the region and that rumors of rice shortage are only speculations.

NFA regional director Danilo Bonabon said there is enough rice supply in the province, while the region still has 1.5 million bags of rice available enough for consumption for 65 days.

He also said the country is expected to harvest at least 7.2 million metric tons of rice in the next few months.  – Jasmin R. Uy/BRP