BALANGA CITY, Bataan — The National Food Authority in Bataan has assured local consumers that the rice coming from the Balanga warehouse is clean and free from pest infestation.
Angelito Rodriguez, head of NFA-Bataan quality assurance, said their rice stock came from a different ship and not from the one docked at the Subic Bay Freeport that was reported to be infested by weevil or “bukbok”.
“Tiyak na walang kuto ang bigas na galing sa Balanga warehouse dahil malinis ang aming bodega at under sa pest control (The rice coming from Balanga warehouse has no weevil because it is clean and under pest control),” Rodriguez said.
He said he was hopeful that the infestation of rice at the Subic port would be resolved soon.
There are 8,000 bags of NFA rice at the Balanga warehouse as of Tuesday, August 28.
“Sampung kaban ng NFA rice ang naka-allocate weekly sa mga retailers sa palengke (Ten cavans of NFA rice are allocated weekly to retailers in the market),” NFA warehouse checker Juanito Ramos said.
There are more or less 100 accredited NFA rice retailers in Bataan.
Ramos could not say until when their rice stock will last. He said that rice retailers from the towns of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles, Bagac and Morong and the City of Balanga get their allocation from the Balanga warehouse.
Some retailers, including an Aeta woman, were seen drawing their allocation on Tuesday.
“Sa isang linggo, nagkukulang ang 10 kaban. Umaabot ng PHP55 ang isang kilo ng commercial rice sa bundok (In one week, the 10 cavans are not enough. A kilo of commercial rice in the mountains reaches PHP55),” the Aeta retailer said. (Ernie Esconde/PNA)
