THE National Food Authority in Davao Region (NFA-11) said it still has an inventory of 177,000 bags of rice and expects more to arrive from Thailand in the fourth quarter.

During the I-Speak media forum Thursday, September 27, NFA regional manager II Lester Romeo Malana said Davao region is scheduled to receive an additional 300,000 bags in the third week of October, 170,000 bags by the end of November, and 12,000 metric tons by December.

“Rice comes from Thailand and it is being loaded now,” Malana said, adding these shipments should be enough to meet the region’s requirements.

He also said that the additional rice supply will be available in NFA outlets in the markets.

“Every end of the quarter, we have a market planning session,” Malana said.

The suggested retail price of NFA rice per kilo is P32 in major outlets and P27 for special projects in barangays such as the Tagpuan Rice Response Delivery.

“Our drive now is to look for more outlets and retailers kasi meron tayong requirement dyan and also the viability of the place,” Malana said.

Meanwhile, NFA provincial manager for Davao City Leonila Selpa, during the same event, said that the NFA owns only one warehouse which is located along Sta. Ana Avenue. The other NFA warehouses in Davao are leased.

“Time na mag-abot ang bugas, amo pud na idiritso sa mga warehouses sa Tagum, Digos (When the shipment arrives, we will deliver it to Tagum and Digos),” Selpa said.

He added that the warehouses can accommodate the imported rice supply.