NFA supply seen to last by May

Photo by EV ESPIRITU

The state-run grains agency’s rice supply is bound to be consumed by May, according to its administrator.

National Food Authority (NFA) chief Jason Aquino said during the House Committee on Food and Agriculture’s hearing on the rice shortage, that the agency’s rice supply is on the brink of being used up in three months.

“By May, wala ng bigas ang NFA, at darating ang shipment by June,” Aquino said as he showed data on the status of NFA’s rice supply.

The NFA policymaking council recently approved the agency’s request for additional rice import of 250,000 metric tons of rice, which is expected to arrive by June.

This means no subsidized rice would be available in the country for a month.

Aquino said this would result to additional expenses on the part of consumers. For a family of six that consumes 1.8 kilograms a day (as computed by the Philippine Statistics Authority), they would need to pay P594 more for rice.

The administrator said the agency needs a guaranteed buffer stocking through a legislation that would ensure the NFA’s supply at any given time, which would allow it to exercise its mandate to ensure food security and accessibility.

The NFA must wait for the approval of its council and the food security committee before it can replenish its supply.