Saturday, March 24, 2007 Rice supply in province adequate: Food agency
NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) Provincial Manager Marianito B. Bejemino Friday said there is adequate supply of NFA rice in the province especially in the coming lean months that starts from June to August.
He said 120,000 bags of rice from Vietnam arrived in Bacolod City last Saturday to beef up the stock inventory of the province. This supply, he said, is part of the 490,000 bags that will arrive in the province for this year.
Bejemino is reminding all Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke (BGPs) operators, accredited individual retailers and Tindahan Natin (TN) operators to sell NFA rice at a prescribed price of P18.00/kg.
Because of the good quality of NFA rice, he said, the retailers and TN operators might be tempted to divert this and pass it as commercial rice, thereby increasing its price.
He said two enforcement teams will be fielded starting next week to monitor compliance of NFA rules and regulations in selling NFA rice. Those who will be caught violating these rules will be fined for a fee of P1,000 or more depending on the gravity of his offense.
The public is encouraged to send in their comments, suggestions, queries and complaints in cases of rice diversion, re-bagging and overpricing to the agency through telephone numbers 433-2754 or 434-7820.
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