The National Food Authority will increase
its rice distribution and introduce premium rice variety in
the key cities of Mindanao to stabilize the price of the basic
staple in the wake of the reported spiraling of commercial
rice prices in the area.
NFA administrator Jessup P. Navarro said that the agency's
rice marketing strategies that proved effective in resolving the price crisis in
Metro Manila will also be implemented in major cities in the southern part of
the country including Davao, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro.
The premium rice, packed in one kilogram bag, and priced at
P25 per kg will be available in the market and sold directly to consumers.
Meanwhile the P18.25 per kg regular-milled rice will still be available through
the NFA rolling stores and Tindahan Natin outlets
Navarro said the introduction of high-quality but low priced
premium rice is expected to narrow the wide price difference between commercial
rice being sold by the private traders and the low-priced NFA subsidized rice.
The NFA chief cited that a recent report coming from Southern
Mindanao showed the recorded average price of well milled rice is P34.17 per kg.
"The reported P50 to P51 per kg rice in Mindanao are fancy varieties like the
milagrosa and upland rice," Navarro clarified.
Unlike the ordinary IRRI and PSB varieties, fancy rice are
being harvested only once a year and therefore commands a higher price, Navarro
explained.
The NFA is continuously keeping a tight watch of the rice
market and closely coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to
preempt and stop the illegal activities of unscrupulous rice traders.
