Tuesday, April 15, 2008 NFA hikes rice allocation to Cebu LGUs
THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Cebu increased the rice allocation per government unit in the province to 30 sacks per week from the original quota of 20 sacks.
The increase was announced yesterday by NFA Cebu Manager Ramon Astilla during a meeting with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Provincial Board (PB) Members Peter John Calederon and Wilfredo Caminero and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter President Cesar Baricuatro.
Garcia said the allocation can still be increased.
“We have no choice,” said Baricuatro on the allocation.
Cebu City, meanwhile, will get an additional 14 “Tindahan Natin” stores to make sure government-subsidized rice will reach more urban poor and mountain barangay communities.
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said NFA 7 Director Danilo Bonabon also assured the City Government that they have already validated the accreditation of all commercial rice retailers, which means the NFA rice will be sold in more stores.
“NFA assured us there is enough supply of rice in Cebu and they would even increase distribution to urban poor areas and mountain barangays through the Tindahan Natin program,” he told reporters yesterday.
At present, there are 16 Tindahan Natin outlets in the city, with 14 more to be set up in the coming months.
Fernandez said NFA also agreed to simplify the accreditation process for the government-subsidized stores so operators can start running the stores soon.
During a meeting with City Hall officials yesterday, Bonabon also reportedly said they have validated the accreditation of commercial retailers selling NFA rice in the city.
The accreditation documents were earlier recalled for review, to make sure that only those who are accredited are selling government-subsidized rice.
Garcia, meanwhile, encouraged the consumption of sanduloy to deal with the increasing prices of rice in the market. Sanduloy is a mixture of 60 percent rice and 40 percent sweet potato. (LCR/JGA )
