THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental will open on Friday, September 21 its Tagpuan Rice Response Delivery Program at Barangay Felisa, the fifth in Bacolod City.

Like other "tagpuan" centers, the agency is allocating 20 bags of P27 per kilogram government rice at the said barangay.

Frisco Canoy, provincial manager of NFA-Negros Occidental, said they are expecting to benefit at least 500 residents through the "tagpuan" center.

Canoy said each consumer is allowed to buy up to two kilograms each through the program, which is in collaboration with the Grains Retailers Confederation (Grecon) in Negros Occidental.

"The concept of the program is to bring closer to the public especially those in the marginalized sector the cheaper yet quality government rice," he said, reiterating that "tagpuan" means a place where people normally converge especially during market day.

On September 19, NFA-Negros Occidental opened the "tagpuan" at Barangay Singcang-Airport.

The first three centers were opened in Barangays Sum-ag, Garanada and Banago also in Bacolod City on September 4, 12 and 13, respectively.

NFA-Negros Occidental eyes more "tagpuan" centers in Bacolod City and other localities in the province.

Amid the limited supply of NFA rice in the province, the agency will sustain the program to benefit mainly the poor, Canoy said.

"We will continue this scheme in order to serve especially the depressed areas," he added.