Yap also ordered NFA officials to open more outlets and distribute the rice directly to the depressed communities in the city.
"Increase the daily allocation and create more outlets to stop the long lines at the markets," Yap said.
For the first time, NFA personnel started selling around 10 a.m. Thursday in Cogon market instead of 12 noon as they have done since a week ago.
Yap arrived here and together with Mayor Constantino Jaraula, Gov. Oscar Moreno and Rep. Yevgeny Emano (2nd district, Misamis Oriental) inspected the NFA warehouse in Sitio Baloy, Barangay Tablon, this city Thursday.
He said the present crisis is not about shortage but the high prices of rice in the world market where the Philippines, one of the biggest rice buyers in the world, is sourcing its grains supply.
"Internationally there is really shortage and there is no denial on that pero tayo nakuha na natin ang volume (but we got the volume)," Yap said
Yap said domestic rice harvest last year hit the target of 16 million metric tons and he is optimistic that it would be better this year at 17 million metric tons.
But the Philippines, with 80 million mouths to feed, have to source some of the staple grain requirements from other other countries like Thailand and Vietnam who have curtailed rice exports to ensure the food supply of its population amid low harvest projections this year.
The Philippine government has pulled all stops in dealing with the rice problem including the lifting of rice import quota of the private sector.
The United States has assured the Philippines it would supply one million tonnes of the grain.
Allocation
Yap ordered NFA officials here to ensure that the rice being sold by the government will reach the poor and will not be diverted by unscrupulous traders.
"Talagang kino-control nang government `yan because some people may take advantage," Yap said.
The NFA released around 350 to 400 sacks of rice daily to selected NFA rice retailer outlets in the markets in Carmen, Puerto, Cogon and Agora and Bulua.
Mayor Constantino Jaraula asked NFA officials to cover as many barangays in the city in their distribution areas to lessen the long lines in the city markets.
He assured them the city government will provide NFA personnel with policemen who will act as security and help control the crowd.
NFA Misamis Oriental manager Victoria Duray said they will sell the rice in Barangay Macabalan and Sitio Tabacco in Barangay Lapasan Friday.
Relief
Consumers queueing in Cogon market received Yap's announcements with relief.
"What we need is really for NFA to increase the rice supplies they are selling. The more sacks we see, the lesser eill be our worries of a rice shortage. I just hope the supply will be stable," Lyn, a resident of Barangay Nazareth said.
Grace, a government worker, said she welcome Yap's idea of opening outlets in the city barangays because consumers can save on transporation money.
Shiela, a housewife, was glad that NFA personnel came early in Cogon market yesterday monring.
"It got even better compared before. Police officials are already present in the area to maintain the smooth exchange of NFA rice," she said.
Another consumer, Margarita of Barangay Patag expressed apprehension over reports that the NFA will require cedulas before they get their ration of three kilos.
She said it will be a burden for them since they will have to shell out money to get "Cedulas" from their barangays.
"I think the "sedula" is not that necessary. We are just here to purchase," Emily, a fish vendor said.
State of denial
Lawyer Beverly Musni, Karapatan's secretary general Northern Mindanao Region slammed Secretary Yap for saying the country is not experiencing a rice shortage.
" If there is no crisis and shortage of supply poor people would not sacrifice coming early in the morning at Cogon market just to buy cheap NFA rice," Musni said.
"Morag nagdamgo lang siguro na siya (Sec. Yap) naliwat na gyud siya ni Gloria Arroyo (He must be dreaming. He's beginning to be like Gloria Arroyo)," she said.
Musni said the proof of a rice shortage is with the quantity of rice (three kilos) the NFA sells to the consumers.
"If there is no shortage, NFA would not have limited their distribution to three kilos per individual," she said.
Musni said three kilos of rice is not enough for a family of six.
She urged the government to implement the P125 wage hike and the P3,000 across-the-board hike demanded by the labor sector.
