AT LEAST 80,000 bags of were unloaded and delivered to the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in San Roque, Zamboanga City, over the weekend ensuring sufficient rice supply in the next few months.

The rice stocks, imported from Thailand, arrived at the Zamboanga port onboard M/V New Sailing I last August 24 coinciding with the visit of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to this city.

NFA Assistant Regional Director Ruben Manatad said the vessel was loaded with a total of 9,000 MT or 180,000 bags of NFA rice for distribution to the different areas in the region.

Some 110,000 bags were originally intended for Zamboanga City.

However, Piñol requested Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, to which the latter agreed, to share 30,000 bags for the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, in the spirit of bayanihan.

With the verbal agreement between Piñol and Salazar, the 180,000 bags of rice were this wise, 80,000 bags for Zamboanga City, 20,000 bags for Zamboanga Sibugay, 10,000 bags each for Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur and 20,000 bags each for Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi which were originally supposed to be allocated only with 10,000 bags of rice each.

Piñol, who earlier declared the rice crisis in Zamboanga City over, credited the generosity of Salazar for extending a helping hand to other areas in need despite facing the same rice shortage challenge akin to the Filipino spirit of bayanihan. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)