NFA rice starts arriving in Zambo Norte

By Alfonso T. Ruda

• Source: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1012814
• Wednesday, September 26, 2018

By Alfonso T. Ruda (EDT/ATR/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte/with report for MBM-PIC)

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte (PIA) --- About 22,000 bags of NFA rice will be arriving in the province, says NFA 9 Assistant Regional Director Ruben Manatad.

In a letter sent to Zamboanga del Norte Governor Roberto Y. Uy, NFA 9 ARD and concurrent NFA-Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Manager Ruben Manatad said that NFA-Zamboanga del Norte is starting to receive NFA rice from Zamboanga City.

Ms. Alexen M. Pareja, acting economist of NFA-Zamboanga del Norte said about 8,990 of the 22,000 bags of NFA rice allocation have already arrived and were initially distributed to different NFA-accredited retailers.

“Based on our latest inventory, we are left with 7,886 bags in our warehouse at Gulayon, Dipolog City after our distribution,” he said.

On the other hand, Manatad said the arrival of NFA rice is so timely considering the increase of price of commercial rice in the local market. He believed this would lower down in the coming weeks, more so with the expected arrival of commercial rice from the towns of Aurora and Molave, Zamboanga del Sur and the cities of Oroquieta, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Palawan, Dumaguete and even Metro Manila.

Earlier, Dipolog City Agriculturist Engr. Kerr Poras assured there is sufficient rice supply in the city, as harvest season is already starting.

Manatad also assured the public that supply of NFA rice in accredited NFA-rice retailers would last until the second week of November this year.

The NFA Provincial Office disclosed that more imported rice will arrive in Dipolog City by mid-November to ensure its required buffer stock can last until the first quarter of year 2018.

Manatad emphasized that NFA is doing its best to address the scarcity of rice in the local market which is a concern not only in the province but also throughout the country.

It may be recalled last September 6, the Local Price Coordinating Council of the province, presided by Vice-Governor Atty. Senen O. Angeles, convened to discuss the increasing price of commercial rice in the local market.

The Vice-Governor assured that there is no rice shortage in Zamboanga del Norte.