Pasig retailers, consumers complain of poor quality NFA rice

The once highly sought and affordable National Food Authority (NFA) rice was now being eschewed by Pasig Mega Market shoppers due to its poor quality.

According to a Friday report by Tina Panganiban-Perez on Balitanghali, consumers and retailers were complaining that the rice had dark-colored and smelled bad.

One seller also claimed that a rice shipment they received had small worms in them.

However, other retailers said they had no problem with their NFA rice shipments.

"Hingi siguro nai-inspect ng NFA yung mga tinitindang bigas. Dati kasi inspected yan eh. Kung anong klase [yung] dine-deliver nila," Lucila Damasco, an NFA rice seller, said.

Due to the complaints, NFA officials toured the market. They also informed the retailers that poor quality rice could be returned to the NFA warehouse, where it would be replaced.

Farmgate vs market rice prices

Meanwhile, according to data gathered by the Department of Agriculture on November 4, there was a mismatch between farmgate and market rice prices.

The average price for fresh palay was P13.68 while the average price dry palay P17.05.

"Kung magkano yung presyo ng bigas, divided by two, yun yung presyo ng palay. Ang average ng dry across region is nasa 17 so dapat nasa 34 sana ang nasa bigas," DA consultant for rice program Valentino Perdido said.

According to Perdido, the retailers' expenses could be inflating market rice prices.

"Nasa retailer na rin kasi ang pagpre-presyo. Sabi natin dahil marami, dapat mura sana, pero hindi ganoon. Marami rin binabayaran ang retailer, pwestuhan lang, tapos yung tao pa," he added. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News