NFA assures public of stable rice supply

MANILA, Philippines - Major players in the rice industry have given assurance that the country has ample supply of rice.

The National Food Authority (NFA) yesterday said that around 150 major players composed of farmers, rice mill owners, wholesalers and traders from Luzon and the Visayas said there is no reason for the public to panic as there is enough rice supply.

The rice industry stakeholders representing rice organizations from Regions 1 to 7 and the National Capital Region informed Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and NFA administrator Orlan Calayag of the rice supply situation in a meeting last Thursday.

The NFA also said that the Farmers Advisory Board and National Confederation of Irrigators Association from the production areas of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Ilocos region reported that palay harvests have already started.

Calayag also said “the NFA is regularly assessing its distribution policies to address the current situation and if there is a need to inject more rice into the market, the food agency is ready to do so.”

Rice prices in public markets in Bulacan rose by P2 per kilo, while those in Pampanga went up by P3 to P4 per kilo last week. The increases were seen amid reports of rice shortage in these areas.

Based on the NFA’s monitoring, prices in intercity Bulacan have started to decline with commercial premium quality rice now being sold at P1,880 per bag from P1,920 per bag.

The price of medium quality rice is now at P1,780 per bag from P1,820 per bag previously, while imported premium quality rice now costs P1,750 per bag from P1,800 per bag.

The NFA said the country has enough rice supply with the inventory recorded at 1.7 million metric tons or 34,282,000 bags, which is good for 51 days.

The rice industry groups, however, would like the NFA to consider raising the buying price of palay because of the additional price in farm inputs. The government’s buying price for palay is currently at P17 per kilo.

The groups also asked the NFA to prepare their procurement budget and logistics with the start of the harvest season.

Rice millers, meanwhile, raised concerns regarding the government’s anti-loading campaign, saying that it may have an adverse effect on the price of rice because of increased transport cost once it is implemented.

Republic Act 8794, or the anti-overloading law, sets new limits on the daily cargo of trucks. The new limits will take effect on Jan. 31, 2014.