By Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA
DUMAGUETE CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Oriental has assured that it will not be selling government rice to local government units (LGUs) or political candidates who might use the staple for election campaign purposes.
NFA-Negros Oriental manager Hilaria Ganzon disclosed Wednesday that in fact, there is a memorandum from Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on the guidelines on selling government rice.
The NFA can only sell to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and only during calamities can they sell to the LGUs, Ganzon said.
The NFA, however, continues to sell government rice to the public through accredited outlets in the market, she said.
As in the case of the provincial government of Negros Oriental, Ganzon said even before the election period, the NFA has already been providing the Capitol with a regular supply of the staple as part of the latter’s regular activities.
“Sauna ra man ni siya nga dunay arrangement sa NFA aron mahatag sama sa mga SCAAs (the Special Civilian Armed Auxiliaries) kay regular budget naman kini (It has long been an arrangement with NFA for Capitol to give to SCAAs as it is already included in its budget),” she said.
“Dili ta ma question ana kay covered man gud na sila sa ilang annual procurement plan (We cannot be questioned about it because it is covered by their annual procurement plan),” she added.
Meanwhile, Ganzon reassured the public that the NFA in Negros Oriental has ample buffer stocks to cover for the next few months.
The latest inventory shows there are 28,000 bags of rice in the local NFA warehouse, she said.
She said there is also no cause for worry over rice shortage as there is plenty of commercial rice available in the local market and prices have even gone down.
