ILOILO CITY — The unloading of imported rice intended for Panay Island is now ongoing at the Iloilo International Port Complex in Loboc, La Paz, this city.
“This is it. This is the result of government-to-government procurement negotiation,” said National Food Authority (NFA) Regional Director for Western Visayas Angel G. Imperial Jr.
The initial shipment of 4,000 metric tons or equivalent to 80,000 bags onboard M/V Dong Phu was meant for Panay Island.
Western Visayas was allotted 8,000 metric tons out of the 250,000 metric tons procured by the Philippine government.
He said that more are coming, intended for Negros Occidental.
While the first shipment was meant for Panay, Imperial said that he will also allot for Negros Occidental as he intends to have a simultaneous distribution so they won’t feel that they are being left out.
“This is a quality good. That is the commitment of the government. The people really deserve, lalo yung mga low-income bracket, the good quality rice from the government. This is subsidized para marami ang makapamili ng magandang kalidad na bigas galing sa gobyerno,” he added that the rice is 25 percent broken, referring to the quality of rice grains.
Once out in the market, the rice will be sold at PHP27 a kilo.
Imperial hoped that the weather will cooperate so the unloading will be completed in time for the planned simultaneous distribution next week.
Of the 80,000 bags, Capiz and Antique will have 10,000 bags each while Aklan will have 5,000 bags. The rest will be stationed in Iloilo.
Meantime, Imperial said the “Tulong sa Bayan Caravan” that gathered private firms, which sells rice at PHP38 to PHP39 a kilo, may choose to continue amid the presence of the low-priced rice in the market.
Seventy-five retailers and 26 suppliers in the region took part in the caravan.
He said that the private traders “took heed of the call of the President” not to raise the prices of their rice in the market.
“It’s up to them but we encourage them to continue,” he said.
Imperial expressed hope that prices of commercial rice will slowly decrease due to the presence of government low-priced rice in the market.
Meantime, Jonathan Gregore, harbor master at the international port, said that the shipment arrived at the port afternoon of June 25 and the unloading started June 28.
He added that as long as the turnaround time of cargo trucks is fast, then the unloading maybe completed nighttime of July 2 or early morning of July 3.
As of 9 a.m. Friday, 8, 275 bags were already unloaded. (Perla Lena/PNA)
