Imported rice from Vietnam, Thailand to be delivered once weather improves —NFA

The rice stocks imported from Vietnam and Thailand are expected to be delivered to Metro Manila within the week once the monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Domeng stop, the National Food Authority (NFA) said Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said the delivery of the imported rice—seen to address the rice supply shortage in the country—has been stalled due to the bad weather.

"Hindi pa namin mababa 'yung bigas namin doon sa Subic Port. Ngayong weekend, supposedly dumating na 'yung barko galing sa Vietnam and Thailand para naman dito sa Metro Manila. Mga 1.5 million bags 'yon na hindi pa rin dumarating dahil doon sa masamang panahon," he said.

Estoperez said they would immediately have the bags of rice delivered once the weather condition improves.

"'Pag lumiwanag na ang ating kalangitan, go na tayo, diskarga agad 'yun," he said. "Kasi naka-standby lang 'yung mga sasakyan para mag-disperse sa ating mga bodega at sa ating mga pamilihang bayan."

"Ngayong linggo siguro, kapag nawala 'yung ulan, magdidiskarga na kami," he added.

Estoperez said prices of NFA rice, despite being imported, would remain steady at P27 per kilo and P32 per kilo.

"[Ang] instruction ng ating Pangulo kay Administrator [Jason] Aquino, walang pagbabago ang bigas ng NFA, kahit medyo mataas at palugi tayo. 'Yan naman ay subsidized, P27 at P32 (per kilo) pa rin 'yung ating presyo," he said.

Estoperez added that the NFA would intensify its monitoring of the delivery of rice to prevent retailers from mixing it with commercial rice.

"Meron tayong mga monitoring teams. Ang gagawin natin, i-intensify natin ang monitoring at pangalawa 'yung mga ating mga programa na diretso na natin kung maaari sa mga pamilihang bayan," he said. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News