By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — Amid rising prices of commercial rice, an official of the National Food Authority (NFA) urged consumers to buy rice milled by the agency.
NFA–Aklan manager Martina Lodero said the public should try NFA rice.
“Walang halos na pagkakaiba ang NFA rice kumpara sa commercial rice (There’s not that much difference between NFA rice and commercial rice),” she said.
In fact, the agency worries that unscrupulous traders would sell NFA rice as commercial rice because of its quality, Lodero said over a radio interview.
“Palaging nandito ang NFA natin to ensure enough supply, very affordable at magandang klase ng bigas sa markets (NFA makes sure that rice in the markets are sufficient, very affordable and of good quality),” she said.
NFA is also strict in terms of the proper use of price tags and labels among accredited rice retailers, Lodero said.
“Sinasabihan din namin ang rice retailers na sundin ang standard na markup at ang mga price tags. Ang boxes ay dapat maayos at napipintahan ng puti (We tell the rice retailers to follow the standard markups and price tags. Boxes should be placed well and painted white),” she said.
Lodero also believes there should be a “one-price policy” for NFA rice in all markets.
Currently, NFA sells regular-milled rice at P27 per kilo and well-milled rice, P32 per kilo.
Commercial rice’s price, on the other hand, has increased to P38 per kilo.
“Tumataas ang presyo ng commercial rice ’pag lean months kasi ang mga households kinukulang at kumukonti ang supply ’pag ganitong season (The price of commercial rice increases during the lean months, the season when supply in households decreases),” Lodero said.
She said that, to impact the pricing trend, NFA made sure there is more than enough agency-milled rice in the markets.
“We expect the price to lower during harvest time,” she added.
Meanwhile, Lodero said the country imports rice from neighboring Asian countries in view of the decline in rice production in the aftermath of super typhoon “Yolanda.”
She assured that there are enough NFA rice stocks in the markets this year.
Aklan, along with other provinces in Western Visayas, is a self-sufficient rice producer, she said.
“Ang supply ng bigas sa buong Aklan ay sapat buong taon. ’Pag mga lean months or off-harvest season, na oras din ng pagtatanim sa atin, tumataas tuloy ang demand (The current rice supply in Aklan is enough for the whole year. Demand normally rises during lean months or off-harvest season, which is also the season for planting),” she said. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
