Imported rice from Thailand can bring the down prices

THE National Food Authority (NFA)-Iloilo said the new stocks of imported rice from Thailand can help bring down prices of rice in the market by P1-P2 per kilo.

Herrielle V. Jumagbas, acting NFA assistant provincial manager for Iloilo, said the 170,000 bags of imported rice from Thailand arrived at the International Commercial Port Complex (ICPC) in Lapuz on September 20.

“We are expecting to complete the unloading of 170, 000 bags of imported rice within five days.

Since evening of Sept. 21, a total of 114,931 bags have already been unloaded,” Jumagbas said.

The imported rice is intended for the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras (97,000 bags), Aklan and Antique (22,000 bags each) and Capiz (29,000 bags). Each bag weighs 50 kg.

According to Jumagbas, the imported rice will also help boost the rice sufficiency in Iloilo.

“Damo na ta bugas subong. Ang imported rice will be sold at P27.00 in the market,” she mentioned.

The imported rice, which is long grained and 25% broken, will also be available to retailers as 20 bags will be released every week per outlet. It will be limited to 10 bags for vendors outside the public markets.

Jumagbas said there are 216 NFA retailers in Iloilo.

Aside from the retailers, stocks of imported rice will also be allotted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Recently, Department of Agriculture (DA)-6 Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter said that Iloilo’s rice sufficiency level is 176%.

Except for Negros Occidental, she assured that Western Visayas remains rice sufficient amid the crisis in Mindanao.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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