SOME 120,00 bags of imported commercial rice from Vietnam have arrived in Negros Occidental last week and will augment the province's existing supply.

National Food Authority (NFA)-Negros Occidental Acting Manager Epifanio Cosca said these will be sold in various commercial establishments and markets in the province.

But Cosca clarified that NFA’s role is only as quality analyst, or mainly ensuring that these rice are of good quality since the agency is already barred from importing rice under Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.

He also said that the agency has already started to buy palay from the local farmers to augment their buffer stocks.

Cosca added that farmers who are interested to sell their produce may do so at the NFA’s warehouses in cities of San Carlos and Bacolod, and in Ilog town.

The NFA official also noted that they are planning to put up additional warehouses in other areas in the province.

Currently, NFA-Negros Occidental has 15,000 bags of rice and 5,000 bags of palay in their storage facilities.

The agency also intends to buy additional 170,000 bags to augment their current stocks.

“More supplies are coming to the province,” he added.