FIRST district Representative Celso Lobregat has requested the National Food Authority (NFA) to increase the allocation of its rice distribution program in the villages in Zamboanga City.
Lobregat made the recommendation following observation that the rice allocation is not sufficient for the conduct of distribution dubbed as “Tagpuan Day.”
The NFA initiated the Tagpuan Day to provide more avenues to poor families to buy cheaper amid the soaring price of commercial rice in this city.
The Tagpuan Day is being conducted in village halls and the target beneficiaries are given coupons to enable them to buy the government-subsidized rice.
The NFA held its rice distribution program on Friday in the villages of Sta. Maria and Tumaga, which Lobregat noted the allocation was not sufficient to cope with the number of residents who queued to avail of the cheaper rice.
The NFA sells rice at P27 a kilo during its Tagpuan Day with an allocation of 100 sacks of rice of 50 kilos each per village.
However, the NFA has increased to 150 sacks of rice of 50 kilos each per village when it conducted rice distribution program on Saturday in the villages of Sinunuc and Divisoria.
Each family can buy a maximum of five kilos based on the requirements set by the NFA.
The rice distribution program is to cushion the effect of soaring prices of commercial rice in the local market brought about by the scarcity of supply.
The NFA also distributes rice through its accredited outlets in the two local public markets and different villages. (SunStar Philippines)