NFA halts rice distribution in Bicol markets due to stock shortage

LEGAZPI CITY – National Food Authority (NFA) Regional Office in Bicol has temporarily suspended the distribution of rice to public markets due to shortage in its buffer stock.

Edna Reyes-De Guzman, NFA Region V assistant regional manager, said they halted rice distribution several days ago.

“As far as NFA rice is concerned, I would like to inform you that for the whole Bicol region what we have in our warehouses is only good for three days,” she said.

Asked why they decided to halt the distribution of rice to public markets, she said: “Our main concern is food security. We are reserving it. Just in case (we) will experience calamity, praying it won’t happen, we have something to give (evacuees) during the conduct of
relief operations.”

She said the daily consumption requirement of Bicolanos is averaging almost 40,000 sacks of rice.

De Guzman admitted that the buffer stock for Bicol is not enough and could only last for three days with about more than 100,000 sacks of rice available.

On the other hand, she said consumers need not worry because the price of NFA rice in the market remains stable. Consumers can also directly buy from their rolling stores positioned at NFA warehouses.

At Legazpi City public market, where NFA rice is no longer displayed, some retailers are affected due to its lack of supply.

Jean Empig, an NFA retailer, said she is hoping that the supply of NFA rice would normalize soon since there are a lot of customers patronizing the NFA rice.

“Many of them are complaining. Maybe because they can’t afford to buy the commercial rice which is quite costly compared to NFA rice,” she said.

Market Administrator Julius Del Rosario said the lack of supply of NFA rice has been observed for almost two months already.

“This problem should be resolved very soon. We pity our consumers who only prefer to buy NFA rice which is the only cheapest one,” he said.