The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Oriental has belied reports its warehouses are swimming with NFA rice due to over importation of the commodity. {{more}}
NFA officer-in-charge Grace Rodriguez, however, said there is sufficient stock of rice in their warehouses but not over the forecasted consumption under the food security provision, especially during the lean months from July to September this year.
At present, the NFA warehouse in Dumaguete has an inventory of 93,015 bags which is expected to be consumed in less than two months.
NFA Negros Oriental has an average daily distribution of over 3,000 bags compared to its target distribution of 3,600 or a monthly average disposal of more than 58,370 bags.
With this figure, Rodriguez said the NFA provincial office is within their target distribution.
She further clarified that over stocking is not happening in their warehouses with a very limited capacity. Its stocks are based on the market participation requirement and daily distributions.
NFA is also supplying rice to the Department of Education (DepEd) under the “free noon-meal” program and the “Food for School” program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Both programs are to expire within the next few weeks, and subject to renewal. (PNA)