FOLLOWING REPORTS of over 4.5 million bags of rice in warehouses of the National Food Authority which are in danger of rotting, the NFA clarified that all its stocks are maintained in good condition at all times and ready for release to calamity victims as required under the law.
It said RA 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, passed in February this year mandates the NFA to maintain a buffer stock good for 15-30 days of daily consumption requirement to meet contingencies during calamities and emergencies anywhere in the country.
The NFA said it currently holds about 4.5 million bags of rice and 6.4 million bags of palay or a total rice equivalent of 8.5 million bags good to last for 13 days.
“We abide by what is dictated by our mandate. We store and handle our stocks following good warehouse-keeping protocols in all our warehouses across the country so that we can immediately respond to any need for rice supply during calamities and emergencies,” NFA administrator Judy Carol Dansal explained.
She said the NFA continues to buy palay from farmers at P17 per kilo to provide them a ready market for their produce at reasonable price. “We conduct procurement operations on a year-round basis. We have more than 300 buying stations across the country that are open daily where farmers can deliver their produce and avail of our support price and incentives,” Dansal said.
“We assure the public that NFA is compliant with its mandate of maintaining a safe and sufficient buffer stock for any emergencies our countrymen may face anywhere in the country. We will never allow our stocks to rot or deteriorate beyond what is fit for human consumption. And we will continue supporting our farmers through our continuous procurement operations throughout the year,” she added. (Cheryl Anya)
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