NFA rice stocks good for 12 days —Palace

Malacañang on Wednesday said the rice buffer stocks at warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA) are adequate for the government’s response and relief efforts amid the adverse weather conditions.

"Sabi ng NFA administration, super secure in terms of buffer stock ang NFA at meron po tayong enough stocks to last for 12 days. Buong Pilipinas po ay makakakain," Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing.

(The NFA administration assured that we are secured in terms of buffer stock and the NFA has enough stocks to last for 12 days. The entire Philippines could be fed.)

Castro said the NFA’s rice stocks are available for release to requesting local government units (LGUs) and relief agencies.

"Nationwide, wala pong nadanyos na stocks at ang NFA ay ready anytime to release stocks to requesting LGUs (local government units) and relief agencies," she said.

(Rice stocks nationwide did not sustain any damage; the NFA is ready anytime to release stocks to requesting LGUs and relief agencies.)

The Palace official made the clarification since Occidental Mindoro and Valenzuela City, sites of NFA warehouses, were affected by flooding due to heavy rains brought about by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, intensified by severe tropical storm Crising.

Habagat is currently being monitored as it is being enhanced again by Tropical Storm "Dante" and tropical depression "Emong." —LDF, GMA Integrated News