TACLOBAN CITY – The National Food Authority (NFA) in the region is set to receive 20,000 bags of rice from Caraga and the Bicol Region to help support the launch of the P20 per kilo rice program in Eastern Visayas.
NFA-8 Regional Manager May Sara Sabarre revealed that the region’s rice procurement has exceeded expectations, with a significant increase from the typical 80,000 bags to nearly 210,000 bags, despite being in the early stages of the first cropping.
However, Sabarre emphasized that the region’s milling capacity is currently limited to 600 bags per day due to full warehouses.
“Nasa maximum of 80,000 lang ang nabibili ni Region 8 pero ngayon, umabot na tayo ng halos 210,000. First cropping pa lang so napakalayo,” Sabarre said, highlighting the region’s progress.
With the demand for rice expected to rise, neighboring regions such as Caraga and Bicol have stepped forward to assist, agreeing to supply rice once the specific quantities needed by Region 8 are finalized in an upcoming meeting at the NFA central office.
The rice designated for the P20 per kilo program will be the freshest stock, with the NFA specifying that only rice aged between 0 to 2 months will be sold, ensuring the quality of the product.
“The bigas na ibebenta natin sa P20 program natin, ‘yong 0–2 months na age. ‘Yong pinakabago talaga. ‘Yong 3 months, hindi na,” Sabarre explained.
A key meeting with local government units is scheduled for this week to determine the precise quantities of rice needed for distribution.
The P20 per kilo rice program is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to addressing rising rice prices and improving food security across the country.
(HNZ MORPHEUS OLAYA, LNU STUDENT INTERN)
