Patronize NFA milled rice, urges NFA-Aklan

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

National Food Authority (NFA) – Aklan Provincial Manager Martina Lodero urged consumers to buy their milled rice amid the rising prices of commercial rice.

 

“Walang halos na pagkakaiba ang NFA rice kumpara sa commercial rice. May apprehension kami na ang mga bigas ng NFA will be sold as commercial rice dahil sa kalidad nito,” she said over Bombo Radyo Kalibo.

Lodero stressed, “palaging nandito ang NFA natin to ensure enough supply, very affordable at magandang klase ng bigas sa markets. Subukan naman natin ang NFA rice.” 

NFA-Aklan manager said the food agency is also strict on accredited rice retailers in enforcing the proper use of price tags and labels.

“Dapat me one-price policy din tayo sa lahat ng NFA rice sa markets,”  Lodero stressed. 

“Sinasabihan din namin ang rice retailers na sundin lang ang standard na mark-up at ang mga price tags, ang boxes ay dapat maayos at napipintahan ng puti.”

At present, the NFA sold the regular milled rice at P27 a kilo and well-milled rice at P32 a kilo. The commercial rice started to go up at P38 a kilo, which is attributed to the law of supply and demand.

“Tumataas ang presyo ng commercial rice pag lean months kasi ang mga households kinukulang at kumukonti ang supply pag ganitong season,” Lodero said.

“Para mainfluence ang presyo siniguro namin na maraming NFA rice sa mga palengke. Ini-expect namin na bababa ang presyo sa markets pag may harvest na.”

Lodero said the country imports additional rice from the neighboring Asian countries to augment the decline of rice production in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

She also assured the households of enough NFA rice stocks in the markets this year. NFA also regularly monitors the milled rice stock inventory and the palay procurement.

“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,” she added.

Aklan province, she said, is a self-sufficient rice producer along with other provinces in the region.