MANILA -- Subsidized rice will soon be available in supermarkets, as part of the government’s measure to lower the prices of the Filipino staple.
On Tuesday, the Department of Trade and Industry, National Food Authority (NFA), and Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (Pagasa) signed a memorandum of agreement that will allow the distribution and selling of NFA rice in supermarkets nationwide.
Consumers may buy up to two bags or four kilograms of NFA rice in participating supermarkets with the same price -- P27 per kilogram.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said this initiative targets to improve consumer access to affordable rice and ease the long queues at NFA rice outlets in wet markets. “We asked the supermarket association to be outlets of NFA rice so we have additional access to affordable rice. They will pick up from NFA warehouses,” said Lopez.
In a text message, Lopez said upon the MOA signing, they target to implement this initiative by next week. He also mentioned that the supply for the supermarkets will be from the available stocks in warehouses and the incoming rice imports.
Lopez explained that NFA rice will become available in supermarkets as soon as Pagasa identifies participating members, and the NFA Council has identified the volume of rice that will be available for sale in supermarkets. Then, the NFA can give the clearance for these supermarkets to pick up the rice supplies in warehouses near them.
Pagasa President Steven Cua said the organization has 40 members with some 160 outlets nationwide, mostly catering to the Class B, C, and D markets.
Government data showed that price pressures on food and non-alcoholic beverages pushed inflation rates in the past months. This was brought mainly by higher prices of rice, fish, vegetables, and meat. (PNA)