Agency brings rice to Batanes to address shortage

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

MANILA—Some 2,000 bags of rice were shipped to Batanes, the Philippine’s northernmost province, in the wake of dwindling commercial rice stocks due to difficulties in crossing the Balintang Channel.

The waterway that separates the province from Babuyan Islands is reportedly not conducive for travel due to rough seas in November and December.

As a result, the NFA said commercial traders were discouraged to continue with their regular rice shipments.

To mobilize rice transport, the NFA hired MV Savers, a commercial ship which, unfortunately, also experienced difficulty in crossing Balintang channel and eventually had to dock at Calayan Island.

As part of emergency protocols, on December 30, the NFA through the Department of Agriculture coordinated with the Department of National Defense to airlift some 200 bags of rice to the province using the C-130 of the Philippine Air Force.

The rice airlift temporarily addressed the tightness in supply problems until the main shipment arrived last Sunday when the MV Savers had finally crossed the channel.

The NFA emphasized it will continue to perform its mandate to provide emergency supply source in areas anywhere in the country wanting supply of the staple.

In the case of Batanes, the agency said it will remain committed to supply additional buffer stocks as long as there is a problem in the supply of commercial rice in the area. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)