MANILA – The supply of rice imported by the National Food Authority (NFA) has been stalled in the ports of Manila and Subic, Zambales for nine days now due to bad weather, an NFA official said Tuesday.
“Pang siyam na araw ngayon,” NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez told GMA News’ “Unang Balita” on Tuesday.
“Naka-tengga kasi doon sa Subic tsaka sa NCR yung ating mga barko. Hindi natin maibaba dahil sa masamang panahon,” he added.
Estoperez said the NFA would deliver the imported rice – seen to address the supply shortage of cheaper subsidized commodity in the country – to public markets once the monsoon rains stopped or weather conditions improved.
“Mga pamilihang bayan lalo na sa urban center sila uunahin natin para to stabilize yung presyo at yung atin pong supply,” Estoperez said.
Estoperez said prices of NFA rice would remain steady at P27 per kilo and P32 per kilo.
Last January, the cheaper grains disappeared from public markets as NFA buffer stocks ran out, giving commercial traders opportunity to jack up prices by P1 to P3 per kilo of the Filipino staple. (GMA News)
