A portion of the shipment of imported rice from the United States, which the National Food Authority will be selling at P25 per kilo, is expected to arrive in Cebu from Manila within two weeks.
This was disclosed by regional director Teodulo Romo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, who added that this new rice stocks would complement the existing supply of commercial rice in the market.
Edgar Diez, of the NFA Enforcement and Investigative Department, earlier said the US rice can compete with the commercial rice in the market because of its better quality.
The P25 rice is aimed at filling the gap and encouraging commercial rice traders and retailers to lower their prices, said Romo. With the entry of the American rice, the P18.25 rice will be pulled out of the market and will be distributed instead through outlets under the aegis of the DSWD.
Romo said the DSWD will now be able to concentrate on the distribution of the P18.25 rice through the Family Access Cards, which is now on a pilot implementation in the National Capital Region.
There will be more “Tindahan Natin” outlets that would be opened in depressed areas identified by DSWD, and in addition also to the Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke, the NFA will also be operating up to four rolling stores in selected areas, said Romo. — Ferliza C. Contratista/RAE