View source for NFA Iloilo puts up 11 palay buying stations

*Source:https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1022142
*Wednesday, May 22, 2019
:By Lilibeth A. French  (JBG/NFA/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) has 11 buying stations strategically located in the different areas of the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras to ensure that farmers can avail of the government’s incentives and support price for palay.

The buying stations are located at NFA Main Office in Jaro, Iloilo City, Dumangas Grains Center, Pototan Grains Center, San Dionisio Warehouse, Brgy. Punong in Passi City, Brgy. Jibolo in Janiuay, Poblacion in Barotac Viejo, Brgy. Mapili in San Enrique, Suclaran Warehouse in Guimaras, and Jordan Warehouse in Guimaras.

Buying station in Brgy. Punong in Passi City is open every Tuesday; in Brgy. Jibolo and Brgy. Pasig every Wednesday; in Poblacion, Barotac Viejo every Thursday; and Brgy. Mapili every Friday.

Currently, the NFA buys palay at a support price of P17.00/kg and provides additional incentives of P3.00/kg for buffer stocking; P0.20/kg drying incentive; P0.20/kg delivery incentive and P0.30/kg for Cooperative Development incentive fee.

“This means an individual farmer can get a maximum of P20.40/kg while members of farmer cooperatives/organizations will get a maximum of P20.70/kg. of palay sold to NFA,” said NFA-Iloilo provincial manager Oliver Cambas in a press report.

Cambas encouraged farmers to sell “clean and dry” palay to enjoy the maximum buying price of P20.40/kg and P20.70/kg.

He added that they have also eased requirements for their procurement program, requiring farmers only a Farmer’s Passbook/Master Passbook as proof of their legitimacy.

Farmers who are selling their produce to NFA for the first time can deliver up to 200 bags even without a Farmer’s Passbook, however, their succeeding deliveries will be covered by a passbook.

Under Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law which took effect March 5 this year, NFA has shifted its focus on buffer stocking, which is sourced solely from local farmers, for calamities and emergencies.