NFA mulls leasing warehouses from private entities, LGUs to decongest warehouses

The National Food Authority (NFA) said Tuesday that it is considering leasing warehouses from private entities and local government units to free up spaces in its warehouses in preparation for the harvest season.

“Mayroon tayong ginagawa diyan which is yung milling process. Lahat ng mga palay natin ngayon, pinapagiling natin. And ‘yun kapag nagiling lahat, 63% lang naman ang recovery sa milling so it will free up spaces, more or less, mga 35% mafi-free up ‘yan,” said NFA administrator Larry Lacson in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(We conduct a milling process. All our rice grains are being milled, so we have a recovery of 63% and this will free up 35% of space.)

“Pangalawa, we are also looking at private warehouses na puwede naming i-lease at pangatlong, mayroong mga local government units at coops na willing to lend o magpahiram ng kanilang mga warehouses po,” he added.

(Secondly, we are also looking at private warehouses which we can lease and thirdly, there are local government units and coops who are willing to lend their warehouses.)

Buffer stocks of rice are filling some warehouses of the NFA, a situation that could burden local farmers if these would not be released ahead of harvesting season.

Hence, the NFA earlier rolled out its stock of rice to some localities for P33 to P35 per kilo following the declaration of a food security emergency.

The affordable NFA rice is being sold in Metro Manila and in Camarines Sur for now.

“Wala pa sa ibang lugar…We are still far from doon sa objective natin na sana nationwide maipamahagi ito sa ating mga kababayan sa murang halaga,” said Lacson.

(It’s not yet available in other places…We are still far from our objective to roll this out nationwide and offer it for an affordable price.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News