NFA Antique allocates
P3.3-M for palay purchase

SAN JOSE, Antique - The National Food Authority (NFA) here has P3.3 million for palay procurement for this season harvest, disclosed NFA's Information Officer Gladdys Gallano.

Farmers may take advantage of the government's support price of P17 per kilo, clean and dry, by selling their produce to the NFA.

The P17 per kilo is only up to May 31, 2008, after which the NFA awaits new guidelines on the government's new price subsidy, Gallano explained.

NFA has fielded personnel to regularly monitor development or changes as far as supply and the prices are concerned, which so far, no complaint on price manipulation or hoarding has reached NFA office.

The regular flow of supply and the transparency that prevails in the market have contributed to the stable rice situation in Antique mainland, being a rice surplus province.

The island municipality of Caluya is under the operational jurisdiction of NFA Mindoro Occidental due to its proximity and cheaper transport cost of making rice available to the consumers, Gallano explained.

The latest NFA's inventory showed combined stocks of 475,941.67 bags, estimated to last up to 97.93 days.

The active outlets of Tindahan Natin, Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke and Bigasan sa parokya of 38, 21 and five respectively make NFA rice more accessible to sectors who need it most in line with the government's anti-poverty advocacy on Labanan ang Kahirapan and Ramdam ang Kaunlaran.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has called on large corporations in the country to provide for the rice requirements of their employees to ease the impact of the global shortage of staple product in their workforce.

In Executive Order 721, the President said corporation with at least 500 employees and landholdings suitable for rice production shall be encouraged to engage in rice production with in a period deemed desirable by the NFA but in no case less than two years from the effectivity of this order.

Corporation intending to import rice for their employees should signify to NFA their intention to do so, the President said, adding that such importation shall be governed by existing laws on the matter. (PIA/PN)