NFA7 to Bring ‘Bigasang Bayan’ Closer to Public

●NFA-7 Regional Director announced the plan in reaction to a statement from the media that NFA rice were hardly displayed in public markets.

The National Food Authority (NFA)-7 on Tuesday initially announced its plan to move ‘Bigasang Bayan’ Centers from public markets to various barangays in Central Visayas.

NFA7 Regional Director Danilo Bonabon announced the plan in reaction to a statement from the media that NFA rice were hardly displayed in public markets.

Bonabon also urged the public to report if they cannot see NFA rice display in any public markets in the region.

“I challenged anybody who can pinpoint that there are no NFA rice displayed in any of our public markets and we will do our part to take an immediate action on it”, Bonabon said.

However, NFA highest officer has stood by his challenge after the members of the media failed to pinpoint the place where there is no display of NFA rice.

Enough Supply

Bonabon, who did failed to mention the details of the plan to deploy rice centers to barangays, guaranteed they have enough stocks of rice in their warehouses in Central Visayas.

According to him, these buffer stocks is within the government price rate of P27 per kilo.

Deployment

Bonabon, without mentioning the effective date, said the plan initially intends to display NFA rice to the barangays in coordination with all local government units (LGUs).

Bonabon said this plan will allow the poor to avail NFA rice at lower price.

“Maaring para lang sa mga mahihirap ang ating bigas but it could compete to the quality of commercial rice in the markets”, Bonabon said.

New Variety

Moreover, Bonabon said that sooner or later, they will also introduce to the market a new variety of rice which has a higher quality compared to their present stock.

This new variety will have a price of P32 per kilo but its quality can compete with those commercial rice that is being sold at P50 per kilo, Bonabon said.

Bonabon explained that the new price will be effective only after all their stocks were totally disposed, and after the imported rice from Vietnam arrives.

Asked why the NFA has the lowest price among local and imported rice in the market, Bonabon said they based their pricing scheme on the quality of their goods.