Grecon Dispels ‘Shortage’ of NFA Rice

● NFA rice sells like hotcakes being the cheapest among the rice variety, Grecon official said.

To negate reports that there is scant supply of rice from the National Food Authority, the Grain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines-Cebu (Grecon) on Tuesday rounded up the barangays of Talisay City to sell the said commodity to the public.

“Naa gyu’y daghang NFA, dali lang mahurot kay dili nato ma-control ang mamalitay. For example diha sa Tabunok Public Market, magbalik-balik na ang mga tawo,” said Semy Cabuenas, chairman of Grecon.

Cabuenas said NFA-accredited retailers like himself have been selling NFA rice only this sells like hotcakes being the cheapest among the rice products.

The price of NFA rice, with 25 percent broken grain, is sold at P27 per kilo, while the other variety, with 15 percent broken grains, can be bought for P32 per kilo.

Cabuenas said that for the indigents to avail the affordable rice, they requested the NFA to allow them to bring these products to the barangays.

On Tuesday Cabuenas’ rolling store visited Barangays Pooc and Poblacion in Talisay City. He said they will visit all 22 barangays of Talisay in the coming days.

“Naa man gyud na, imposible wa. Naa lang siguro’y panahon nga mahutdan. Pero og magkugi lang sila og adto sa mga accredited retailers, naa na,” he said.

The NFA was questioned after it announced that there was NFA rice in its accredited retailers all over the country, but local consumers, in interviews with the media, denied this statement saying there was no such cheap rice in the markets.

It was alleged that retailers hoard NFA rice and sell this to commercial rice retailers to be sold at a higher price.