Supply of cheap NFA rice in Metro Manila already wiped out, exec says

The National Food Authority (NFA)'s supply of cheap rice in Metro Manila has already been consumed, an NFA official said on Tuesday.

NFA North District Office manager Arnel Alfonso said that his office had anticipated the lack of affordable NFA rice as early as November 2017. He said the matter had been constantly coordinated with the regional and central offices.

"Actually buong Metro Manila office wala na... 'Yung mga stocks na natitira sa amin, bayad na ng DSWD 'yun (Department of Social Welfare and Development). Wala po tayong food security," Alfonso said in an interview on Balitanghali.

"Actually as early as November, nakikita na namin 'yung ganitong sitwasyon and we are communicating constantly with the regional office... and the regional office to the head office," he added.

Alfonso indicated that the NFA's importation of 250,000 metric tons or five million bags in September wasn't enough.

"Unfortunately, 'yung huling importation namin dumating September no, last week ng September 2017 na 250,000 metric tons. Five million bags," Alfonso said.

"On a nationwide basis seven to eight days consumption requirement ng buong Pilipinas... Malayo pa rin sa 15 days na mandato na food security stock, manipis na noon pa lang dumating," he added.

Alfonso, nonetheless, said that there was no shortage of rice in the country.

"Meron naman po, 'yun 'yung tinatawag namin na industry inventory meaning pati commercial, household nandoon. Sufficient po ang supply, walang rice crisis pwede siguro price crisis, meron," Alfonso said.

Alfonso said the NFA council had been ordered to import rice for Metro Manila. He, however, said the feared that it would only last for up to six months.

"Alam ko inallow na ni Presidente... 250,000 metric tons ulit, napakanipis po ulit nun. Kahit dumating 'yun, the most tatagal 'yun six months... babalik na naman tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon," Alfonso said.

In a separate Balitanghali interview, NFA Council spokesperson Assistant Secretary Jonas Soriano said there could be a possibility of "mismanagement" with the supply of NFA rice.

"'Yung problema na 'yan, a problem of NFA management kaya nga ang NFA council, nagpapaudit ng operation from October, November to December last year kasi maraming nabenta na bigas ng NFA na during those months hindi naman kailangang magbenta dahil harvest season," Soriano said.

"So tinatanong namin bakit ganon? If they did not sell the rice, wala sana tayo problema sa supply ngayon..." he added.

Soriano also questioned why there was a need to sell the buffer stock of NFA rice.

"If there is an abundant of supply because logic will tell you, you should not sell. Why are you selling the buffer stock? Alam mo ang NFA ang kanyang patakaran, kapag merong bagyo, merong kalamidad, ang unang tatakbuhan ay 'yung bigas ng NFA dahil di mo naman pwedeng kunin 'yung bigas na nasa trader at nasa tao mismo," Soriano explained.

He also assured the public that there is no rice shortage in the country, adding that he sees no reason for the price of rice to hike.

"We have no problem of bigas. There is no reason why prices will rise. Economists will tell you that the only reason why prices will rise if there is a very deep problem in terms of supply. NFA rice only supplies four percent, pang-buffer stock 'yan," Soriano said. —NB, GMA News