NFA to open rice outlets in schools, churches, wet markets
SAN FERNANDO CITY—The National Food Authority (NFA) is opening rice outlets in nontraditional sites like schools, churches and talipapa (village wet markets) in the Ilocos region so that the public can buy affordable but quality rice.
Carlito Go, NFA-Ilocos director, said these new retail areas would add to the outlets that the agency has opened in public markets in the region.
Co said the agency waived the requirement that outlets would be accredited as NFA retailers only if their owners have been in the rice retailing business in the last two years.
“We are looking at the possibility of opening rice outlets in places frequented by people. If there is a need for us to open outlets in talipapa, schools, churches or wherever there are people who converge, we will do so,” Co said.
“We are talking with church officials about the possibility of having a Bigasan sa Parokya (parish rice center) so that we can cater more to the needs of our people, especially at this time when the price of rice is still high,” he added.
Co, however, said those who wanted to be accredited as NFA rice retailers would be subjected to the usual process of accreditation. He said an interested retailer must submit an application form, business license and Department of Trade and Industry registration, and must pay the corresponding application fee.
He said the NFA had increased the rice allocation of the agency’s accredited outlets but the NFA’s provincial managers determined the volume of allocation being given to accredited outlets.
“They know their inventory and the prevailing situation in their respective provinces,” Co said.
He assured consumers in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte that the NFA had enough stock.
“We assure the public that even if we increase the number of our accredited rice retailers and the allocation of our accredited outlets, we have enough supply to meet the demand in our region. As a matter of fact, we have two shipments being unloaded at Poro Port containing a combined total of around 300,000 bags, which will be distributed to the [four] provinces,” he said.
Co said the price of NFA rice in the region continued to range from P27 to P32 per kilogram, depending on grain quality. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon
