Enhancing confidence, accelerating accessibility

NEGROS. Capstone project team led by project adviser and NFA-Negros Occidental Provincial Manager Frisco Canoy (fourth from left) with Punong Barangay Crisanto Broce (center). (Erwin P. Nicavera)
NEGROS. Capstone project team led by project adviser and NFA-Negros Occidental Provincial Manager Frisco Canoy (fourth from left) with Punong Barangay Crisanto Broce (center). (Erwin P. Nicavera)

FOR millions of Filipino residents who are considered poor, the National Food Authority (NFA) rice has been part of their households' table for years, a constant staple food for the many.

Amid the recent developments on how is the Philippine Government addressing concerns hounding the country including importation, a call to make "cheaper yet quality" rice more accessible in the marginalized sector emerged.

On February 14, 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11203, an "Act Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation and Trading of Rice, Lifting for the purpose the Quantitative Import Restriction on Rice, and for Other Purposes," which lifted import restrictions on rice to make the price of the staple commodity affordable for all.

It has removed the regulatory functions of the NFA over international and domestic trading of rice.

Under which, the agency can no longer act on licensing and registration of persons and entities engaged in the grains business, and collection of regulatory fees.

Other functions stripped from the agency included issuance of negotiable warehouse receipts, warehouse inspection, authority to seize hoarded stocks, and enforce rules and regulations in the grains business.

Dr. Glenda Gonzales-Paz, Economist IV of NFA in Western Visayas, said low public confidence toward NFA rice quality is an essential issue to be addressed by the agency.

Gonzales-Paz, who is a Public Management Development Program scholar of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and belongs to Middle Managers Class Hinirang, said confidence enhancement initiatives provide a good feedback mechanism by opening the communication lines to stakeholders.

"Feedback will be a reference to identify a policy to consumer rice requirements and access not only during emergencies and calamities as stipulated in the law but at all times," she added.

In the bid to further explain such proposition, Gonzales-Paz is conducting a study aimed at ensuring consumers' confidence on NFA rice quality while accelerating its accessibility in the marginalized sector.

Citing provisions of the law's implementing rules and regulations (IRR), Gonzales-Paz said the NFA shall maintain the optimal level of buffer stocks at all times.

The agency should also make releases through the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) during emergencies and in support to disaster relief programs of the government.

Or, it disposes stocks as necessary before the quality of rice deteriorates or become unsafe for consumption, Gonzales-Paz said.

"In maintaining the quality of rice, the NFA has been consistent to provide its target beneficiaries a good and safe rice whether it was sourced from importation or local sources through its palay procurement program," she added.

Moreover, the proponent's Capstone Project dubbed "NFA Rice (Responsive Initiatives for Confidence Enhancement) in the Marginalized Sector" was implemented on May 23 this year in Barangay Ermita, Sipaway Island in San Carlos City.

The geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (Gida) is the locale of the study in collaboration with the City Government of San Carlos, Barangay Council of Barangay Ermita and DSWD's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the city.

The activity was participated by 4Ps beneficiaries and barangay officials.

Responsive initiatives for confidence enhancement such as information and education (IEC) campaign on NFA rice quality standards to inform and harness the consumers' knowledge about its quality, Rice "Taste Test" activity, and consumer sensory evaluation to evaluate and analyze potential differences in rice sensory characteristics and its overall acceptability were conducted.

Also, there were pre and post perception surveys to determine the level of perception on NFA rice quality among consumers and direct selling of NFA rice or "Tagpuan Day" to accelerate NFA rice accessibility in the marginalized areas.

Gonzales-Paz said the importance and relevance of enhancing the public confidence level on NFA rice quality are for the agency to identify and validate. It has to investigate the causes of low confidence among consumers as well as distinguish interventions and policy on increasing it.

Despite that it is highlighted in the law that NFA rice will only be issued during emergencies and calamities, the project proponent suggests the adoption of an initiative through a policy in distributing government rice after its buffer stocking period.

"This is to give benefit to the consumers directly those in the marginalized sector, who are the target beneficiaries of NFA rice," she said.

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