NFA begins selling imported rice to Northeast Mindanao

The state-owned National Food Authority (NFA) started selling imported rice stocked at the agency’s various warehouses in this northeastern Mindanao region to accredited grain-dealers, but limited to 5,000 bags per purchase.

Gil Pepito B. Paqueo, Caraga NFA regional director, announced on Tuesday that  his provincial and city offices have already started accepting buyers for their  imported rice (VCCW91) 15 percent broken  pegged at P1,175.00 per bag.  

He, however, clarified that the field managers would only sell to buyers, either retailers or wholesalers who are holders of NFA license, with a maximum of 5,000 bags per transaction.

Paqueo assured that the region’s current stock is more than enough to meet the 31-day food requirement of four provinces at the daily consumption rate of 22,800 bags.

According to the NFA’s rice inventory as of the first week of May, there are 974,790 bags of imported rice now being stored at different warehouses in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte  including Dinagat Islands and six cities—Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Tandag, Bayugan and Cabadbaran.

Based on the 2007 census, Caraga has registered a total  population of 2,293,480, making it the country’s third least-populated region.

Paqueo called on the consumers to immediately report on any cases of overpricing, rebagging and diversion of NFA imported rice.

Weeks ago the NFA and the agriculture regional office here were also selling certified palay seeds to farmers for only P600 per 40-kilo bag.   

Paqueo said the 40-kilo bag of high-yield rice seeds is worth P1,200, but the farmers only paid half the price and the government would shoulder the other P600. (Business Mirror)

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