Wednesday, August 06, 2008 Access cards for NFA rice available soon in Negros By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
TO ENSURE that there will be no hocus pocus in the distribution of NFA (National Food Authority) rice in Negros Occidental and Bacolod, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will finally distribute access cards for Bacoleños and Negrenses soon.
Gov. Isidro Zayco revealed this Tuesday after his huddle with Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who was in Bacolod and southern Negros, over the weekend. Access cards for NFA rice are now being used in Metro Manila and some part of Luzon.
Beneficiaries of this access card will be the "poorest of the poor" to be identified by the respective towns and cities social welfare and development office and to be assisted by the local mayors and barangay officials.
"On Thursday, we will be having a meeting with NFA-Negros chief Marianito Bejemino to set guidelines on the distribution of access cards so these will not be used for any political motive of any politician that will ride on the program," the governor stressed.
Bejemino assured that there's enough supply of NFA rice for Negros and Bacolod.
Regular price of NFA rice is P18.25/kilo while the Thailand variety is sold at P25/kilo.
Any rice trader jacking up the price of NFA rice will be sanctioned, stressed Bejemino.
Zayco, however, explained that despite having an access card, still a card holder will have to pay for the rice "because it's not for free."
But the governor is not yet certain of other guidelines especially on the allowable kilo(s) to be sold per access card holder, saying: "Let's see what we will agree on Thursday during our meeting with the NFA manager."
He, however, said it's good to note that Yap has already assured that Negrenses can avail soon of access cards for NFA rice.
Zayco was also happy to report that NFA rice (Thailand variety) is reportedly of good quality and can compete with the commercial well-milled rice in the market.
And for only P25/kilo, he said: "At least, some of our Negrense people can now avail of the cheapest rice."
He also appealed to all mayors and barangays executives in the province to refrain from using the identification of access beneficiaries for their political agenda.
