By Ahikam Pasion/PNA
DAGUPAN CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Western Pangasinan has suspended since last week its provision for accredited retailers in the western part of the province due to a limited supply of rice in its warehouses.
NFA- Western Pangasinan assistant manager Chona Maramba said in an interview on Thursday only about 3,000 sacks of rice remain in their warehouses, which are allotted for local and national government’s program.
“The remaining rice supply is allocated for supplemental feeding of local government units, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” Maramba said.
She noted that island barangays in this city or other barangays, which are part of the Tagpuan Rice Delivery Response Program of the NFA, where the agency brings to the intended beneficiaries the rice supply, are also part of the allocation in the remaining rice supply of the office.
Maramba added that NFA cannot allocate rice for the market until the imported variety from Thailand has arrived.
“We will have to wait until the last week of December to the first week of January before we begin re-stocking supplies for the retailers,” said Maramba.
NFA- Western Pangasinan, however, assured that there is enough supply of rice in the market since it is harvest season.
“Prices of rice ranges from PHP38 and above,” Maramba said.
The agency promised to immediately release rice as soon as the imported supply arrives.
