DUMAGUETE CITY -- The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Oriental is still selling affordable government rice at P27 a kilo even with the rice tariffication law allowing more rice importation in the country.

NFA-Negros Oriental general manager Hilaria Ganzon said Tuesday, May 21, they still have until August this year to unload their rice stocks before the agency shifts to its new role of simply being the source of government rice for calamities and other emergency purposes.

Ganzon said there are about 28,000 bags of rice at the local warehouse, which are being sold to the public via accredited retailers in the local markets.

A shipment of an additional 40,000 bags of imported rice is also expected for delivery to Negros Oriental before August this year, she said.

“After that, we don’t know what’s next, what other instructions are to be given because right now there is an ongoing re-structuring in our agency,” she added.

But once the stocks are exhausted, Ganzon said they still do not know whether to continue selling at the current price.

“Because of the rice tariffication law, our role would be for buffer-stocking only as commercial traders will be freely importing rice and definitely the market will be flooded with the staple,” she noted.

Ganzon said they are now starting the procurement process for locally-produced palay for their buffer stock, as the NFA could no longer import rice under the tariffication law. (PNA)