Cheaper rice now available in Luzon

IMPORTED RICE A shipment of imported rice will form part of the National Food Authority’s stock in the Bicol region. —MICHAEL JAUCIAN

The National Food Authority (NFA) this week started unloading thousands of bags of rice from Vietnam that would be sent to its warehouses and outlets in Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley and Bicol regions.

The NFA said the 220,000 bags of rice that arrived at Subic Bay Freeport on June 5 would be shared by provinces in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley.

The imported rice can be bought for P27 to P35 a kilogram in the regions’ markets this week or next week, according to Rex Estoperez, NFA Central Luzon director and spokesperson.

Rains delayed the unloading and delivery of the stocks to warehouses in the two regions, Estoperez said, adding that the target was to unload 10,000 bags a day starting Monday this week.

A vessel, carrying 120,000 bags of Vietnam rice, had docked and was waiting for its turn to unload. Another shipment of 160,000 bags will complete the 500,000 bags allocated for the two regions for July and August.

In Bicol, 126,000 bags of rice arrived at Tabaco City port on Friday last week.

Edna de Guzman, NFA director in Bicol, said the supply was enough to last for one and a half months. She said the region’s total allocation was 400,000 bags.

De Guzman said the NFA had reserved rice stocks in case natural or man-made calamities strike. —REPORTS FROM TONETTE OREJAS AND MICHAEL JAUCIAN