P6.22B Saved by Consumers from Buying 10.3M Bags of Low-Priced NFA Rice

An estimated P6.22 billion was saved by the consumers from the marginalized sector from the more than 10.36 million bags of low-priced rice distributed by the National Food Authority from January to November this year.

An ordinary consumer saves at least P12 per kilogram every time he buys NFA rice sold at P27 per kilogram compared to the lowest imported well-milled rice sold at P39 per kilogram based on suggested retail price (SRP). This savings translate to bigger purchasing power for ordinary consumers that they can use to buy other food items and necessities.

NFA OIC Administrator Tomas Escarez said that the food agency has accredited a total of 19,231 rice retail outlets nationwide currently selling NFA rice. “We are utilizing several platforms to make sure that NFA rice reaches our poor kababayans even in the remotest and farthest barangays and island provinces,” said Escarez.

Aside from its network of dedicated and individual rice retail outlets in public markets, NFA has also accredited non-traditional outlets such as Barangay Bagsakan and Barangay Food Terminals and Bigasan sa Parokya. NFA has also partnered with the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) TienDA Malasakit and the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Tulong sa Bayan Suking Outlets on Wheels.

NFA is also deploying mobile stores through its “Tagpuan Day Rice Response Delivery” (TRRD) in partnership with the accredited operator and local government units in remote barangays and resettlement areas around the country to serve marginalized consumers including the indigenous people.

TRRD is a rice distribution strategy where the P27/kg NFA rice is sold directly to poor and marginalized beneficiaries in the area at an appointed time and place in close coordination with the local barangay.

Meanwhile, Escarez said that the delivery of 297,000 metric tons rice shipments under the open tender scheme in the NFA warehouses is almost complete. With these new fresh stocks, the food agency can continue to inject low-priced rice to make it accessible and available to more consumers through its network of accredited retailers. (NFA)