LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The National Food Authority’s (NFA) office in western Pangasinan has announced an open house sale to allow even non-accredited retailers to purchase its rice.
“Marami tayong supply ngayon dahil sa local procurement. Since nag-focus tayo sa pagbili sa mga local farmers, mas marami tayong naiipon [We have much supply because of the local procurement. Since we focused on buying from the local farmers, our stocks have increased],” NFA-Western Pangasinan Assistant Manager, Chona Maramba, said in an interview Thursday.
Maramba said 160,000 sacks of rice were stored in their warehouse.
With the removal of exclusivity, even rice mill owners may also procure NFA rice, she added.
Maramba noted that the NFA does not see the sale of rice to non-accredited retailers as a threat, as rice sells at a lower cost comparable to the price of NFA rice.
Regular-milled rice sells for about P28 to P32 per kg.; well-milled rice for P33 to P40; premium milled rice for P45; and NFA rice for P27.
Maramba assured the public of sufficient supply of NFA rice despite the lean months.
“Kahit na nagbebenta po tayo sa mga non-accredited retailers, sapat na sapat po ang suplay natin ng bigas para sa mga consumers at sa emergency [Even though we sell to non-accredited retailers, our supply is more than enough for our consumers and for emergency purposes],” she added.
Non-accredited retailers may purchase NFA rice at P1,250 per cavan.
NFA procurement from farmers continues, with a purchasing price of P17 to P22 per kilogram of palay.