Rice supply enough for lean months

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) has assured there is enough rice supply as the country enters the start of lean months in July.

“We have more than enough stocks of the good quality, low-priced NFA rice for the lean months,” NFA officer-in-charge Tomas Escarez said.

The lean months start in July and end by September.

Escarez has also directed all the agency’s field offices to closely monitor the rice supply and price situation in all markets nationwide.

As of June 15, he said NFA has more than the 30-day buffer stock needed at the start of the lean months, with current inventories enough to last for 32 days.

“These stocks are now strategically prepositioned across the country, especially in calamity-vulnerable areas,” he added.

Furthermore, Escarez instructed field offices to accredit more rice outlets for NFA rice to ensure that supply will be more accessible to low-income residents.

“Closer price monitoring and the opening of more rice outlets will ensure that our people will always have access to NFA rice,” he said.

Rice inventory currently stands at 3.54 metric tons (MT) and remains sufficient for 110 days based on national daily requirement of 32,560 MT.