By Allen Estabillo/PNA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) delivered an additional 160,000 bags of imported rice to augment the standby stocks of four provinces in Region 12 or Soccsksargen and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Dionisio Hectin Jr., NFA provincial manager for this city and Sarangani, said Wednesday the augmentation stocks were mainly intended to maintain the presence of the NFA rice in various markets in the area.
He said the delivered rice stocks, which reaches a total of 8,000 metric tons, were allotted for the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and Maguindanao.
South Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat will get 30,000 bags each while North Cotabato will receive 40,000 bags, he said.
Hectin said the remaining 30,000 will be stored in the city but will remain as standby stock for Soccsksargen and ARMM.
“The unloading of the stocks are ongoing. Once completed, these will be delivered to the concerned NFA provincial offices,” he said in a radio interview.
The official said the cargo vessel that carried the rice stocks arrived at the Makar Port here last Dec. 30 but the docking and unloading was delayed due to the lack of permit from the Bureau of Customs.
He said the Philippine Ports Authority requires the issuance of proper permits before vessels are given berthing spaces at the port.
Hectin said they expect the delivery of the additional rice stocks for the city and Sarangani Province in the next rice shipment.
He assured that the area will have enough rice stocks until the next shipment, which is being arranged by the NFA central office.
The official said their current inventory reaches around 53,000 bags, which could last at least two months based on the area’s requirements.
Hectin added that they are currently maintaining the presence of NFA rice in the local markets, with a participation rate of 7 percent.
