Supermarkets to sell NFA rice

HEAVY LIFTING NFA rice, like this being carried by a worker in Paco, Manila, would soon be available in supermarkets, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. —RICHARD A. REYES

Consumers will soon be able to able to buy National Food Authority (NFA) rice from some supermarkets, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced on Saturday.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said his department would sign on Monday a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. whose members would be designated outlets of NFA rice.

“We asked the supermarket association to be outlets of NFA rice so we have additional access to affordable rice,” Lopez said.

“They will pick up from NFA warehouses,” he said.

Quick execution

Lopez said NFA Deputy Administrator Judy Dansal had already agreed to implement the agreement in the same week that the deal would be signed.

The supermarket group has more than 20 member-supermarkets, its website showed.

This, however, does not include more popular stores, like SM Supermarket.

The agreement was one of the solutions formulated by the DTI to make affordable rice available to more people, particularly because of the spike in inflation and the potential impact of Typhoon “Ompong,” (international name: Mangkhut).

The government was moving to address possible critical shortages of food in areas caught in the path of the typhoon.

Premium sellers

The initiative also included releasing smuggled rice and other food items for immediate distribution.

Lopez said the DTI requested the NFA to exert its authority in requiring rice retailers to always sell regular and well-milled rice.

“NFA will issue an order on this,” he added.