Provincial operations officer  Rolando Lazalita of the National Food Authority reported that a total 60,000  bags  of  NFA  rice from Thailand arrived recently in Negros Oriental

Lazalita said  they are expecting  the  possible increase in NFA rice consumption, because of  the  recent P2 price increase  in commercial  rice in the Visayas.

He said that they are prepared  for   possible panic and bulk-buying  because of price  increases  as this already happened in the past. He said,  though, that there is no need to panic because NFA  Negros Oriental has  sufficient supply  of  good quality rice.

They are trying  to find ways  to minimize  the  long lines  in NFA accredited retailers and at the Bigasan sa Palengke, Lazarita said.

The  NFA  central  office  has  not  issued  any  warning of a   price increase in  rice yet.

The  Tindahan Natin under  the Department of Social Welfare and Development  is  still  selling rice at P18.25 per kilo to its  indigent  beneficiaries  in the barangays.

The  Bigasan  sa Palengke  is  selling broken Thailand rice at  P25  per kilo and Vietnam rice at  P30  per kilo.

Lazalita  said  they  have observed  the  rise in rice allocation request from NFA retailers which  could  be attributed  to  the  price increase of  commercial rice.

The retailers  with the highest requests for NFA  rice  are from Bais , Guihulngan, Canlaon, Dumaguete and Bayawan Cities, Siaton, and La Libertad towns.

To the report of retailers said  consumers are asking for more rice supply after the increase in prices in commercial rice.

The  rice-producing towns  like Bayawan and Siaton  also  reported  that  their produce was not  enough  for  their own  consumption.  They also admitted being affected by the erratic weather pattern especially in corn production.

Meanwhile, Lazalita also warned the consumers  to be vigilant about the quality of  rice    they  are  buying since unscrupulous  rice traders may  take advantage  of  the  situation.*MA

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