THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental is launching today the “Tulong sa Bayan” program mainly aims to make available in the local market the P39, or lower, per kilogram of commercial rice.

Frisco Canoy, the new provincial manager of NFA-Negros Occidental, yesterday told SunStar Bacolod that the initiative was started in Luzon after traders committed to helping address the NFA rice supply woes in the country.

Canoy, who was transferred in Negros Occidental from Antique earlier this month, said some local traders in a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte have committed to sell their rice at the maximum price of P39 per kilo only.

“Initially, the measure has contributed positively amid the low supply of the P27 per kilogram NFA rice in the market thus, the government will implement it nationwide,” he said.

Negros Occidental is the first province in Western Visayas to implement the “Tulong sa Bayan” program, which is in coordination with the private rice traders in the province.

Canoy said this will ensure supply of affordable rice to consumers until such time that the importation arrives most probably during the third week of May.

As of Thursday, the province’s remaining buffer stored at the NFA warehouse is at 250 bags. These stocks are intended for possible calamities and emergencies.

“This is just temporary,” Canoy said, adding that the P39 and below per kilo of rice is already available in some markets in the province a day prior to the official launching of the program at the NFA-Negros Occidental Compound in Bacolod City today.

Earlier this week, NFA-Negros Occidental conducted a meeting with local traders and grains businessmen to ask the latter whether they can reduce the price of their rice at P39 per kilo or even lower.

The provincial manager said many have expressed interest to help though they have yet to identify the total number of outlets selling rice at the lower price.

In terms of ensuring the quality of rice sold at P39 per kilogram, the agency said it will conduct regular monitoring.

Canoy pointed out rice sold at the said price should be of good quality regular milled rice.

“We were able to get samples because there might be low-quality rice yet sold at P39 per kilogram maximum prize,” he said, adding that NFA is also set to distribute streamers and special price tags with program logo and details to further inform consumers about the program.