THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental will soon issue a license as accredited retailers of the P27 per kilogram rice to some supermarkets and other commercial establishments in the province, its top official said.
Frisco Canoy, provincial manager of NFA-Negros Occidental, said representatives of local supermarkets covered by an agreement have committed to comply with the requirements within this week.
It can be recalled that on September 19, the NFA has entered a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (Pagasa) for the selling of cheaper government rice among identified supermarkets nationwide.
Based on the list of supermarkets and other commercial establishments covered by the agreement, two companies with a total of 22 branches in the province will soon sell NFA rice in their respective establishments.
These firms included Prince Warehouse Club Inc. with seven branches in cities of Bago, Himamaylan, La Carlota, Sagay, Silay and Talisay, and Hinigaran town.
The other company is KJ Fairmart that operates Bayanihan Grocery with two branches in Burgos and Barangay Sum-ag in Bacolod City, and Munsterific with 13 branches in the said city.
Canoy reiterated that under the agreement, participating supermarkets will be given NFA rice retailing license. They should sell the commodity within the mandated consumer price.
Stores are mandated to sell not more than two packs of two kilograms each pack per consumer. For them to get a license as retailers, supermarkets have to comply with the requirements like rice bag and price tag, among others.
“After they can comply, we can already issue the license most probably next week then the distribution of stocks follows,” he said, adding that the agency’s intention is to make the “cheaper yet quality” government rice closer to the consumers through one, making it available also among supermarkets on top of existing accredited retail outlets within public markets.
With its current limited buffer stocks, NFA-Negros Occidental earlier said it can supply an initial five to 10 bags per supermarket.
On top of the remaining inventory of 6,000 bags, an additional 5,000 bags from Iloilo have arrived in the province this week.
These form part of the 10,000 bags requested by NFA-Negros Occidental from Iloilo as augmentation amid the impending import allocation for the province.
Canoy earlier told SunStar Bacolod they are expected the vessel to arrive in Negros Occidental most probably the first week of November after the unloading of stocks in cities of Davao and General Santos totaling to 500,000 bags.
Canoy said the province is getting a separate 100,000 bags, however, it will be the last disport area so they expect the vessel to arrive here next month.