ILOILO CITY, June 4 (PIA) - - The regional office of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Western Visayas assured that the rice stocks released from its warehouses for relief operations are of good quality and safe.
NFA 6 Information Officer Lalaine Doronila made the assurance during the second quarter meeting, June 2, of the Regional Nutrition Technical Committee in Western Visayas amid reports claiming that rice stocks from the NFA are of poor quality.
Doronila said their palay stocks are bought from local farmers and quality and safety standards are observed during the milling process and storage.
“We do not release rice stocks that are not safe or unfit for human consumption. We see to it, we check that our rice are of good quality before releasing them for emergency and relief operations such as during this time of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COID 19) crisis,” she said.
With the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, she explained that NFA has stopped selling and importing rice instead it only provides buffer stocks for calamities and relief operations.
“All our rice stocks are locally sourced and are intended only for relief distributions of local government units, Department of Social Welfare and Development and other relief agencies. Currently, it is available at P1,350 per 50kg sack,” Doronila said.
She added that they are ready to replace those “poor quality rice stocks” if these will be proven that the said stocks are sourced from the NFA.
Doronila also assured that the region has sufficient rice buffer stock during this COVID 19 pandemic.
Infact, the region has augmented other areas in the country experiencing low rice supply such as Region 7 and Tawi-Tawi, she said. (JSC/laf/PIA6-Iloilo/Photo courtesy of NNC 6)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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