NFA’s P27/kilo rice no longer available

CEBU, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) said the P27 per kilogram rice variety is no longer in its inventory.

"Na-exhaust naman atong stocks sa P27/kg kay mao man atong una nga gi-serve sa public. Karon sa among rolling stores og kanang sa atong mga accredited outlets sa mga public markets is at P32/kg," said NFA-7 Information Officer Olma Bayno.

Bayno said the P27/kg stocks that were already exhausted were part of the first importation, while the next importation will be all 25 percent broken rice.

The P27/kg is 25 percent broken rice while the P32/kg is just 15 percent broken rice.

As of October 9, Central Visayas has a total inventory of 430,000 bags, Bayno said.

She added that the unloading of the 120,000 bags of rice from the foreign vessel MV Vinalines Mighty is ongoing.

Another foreign vessel MV Vinh Hung that carries 120,000 bags is currently anchored in Cebu.

"Mao ang two vessels nga mo complete sa 480,000 bags allocation under the 250,000 MT rice importation through the Open Tender Scheme," Bayno said.

Meanwhile, in a statement, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the full liberalization of rice importation in a bid to reduce the impact of inflation in the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte has approved the unimpeded importation of rice in the country, a decision which the chief executive made during the 30th Cabinet meeting on Monday, October 8.

“After a presentation conducted by Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez that food items now [are] primarily responsible for an even increase in inflation rate for the last month, the President ordered the unimpeded importation of rice,” Roque said during his regular Palace press briefing.

Roque said the order is expected to increase the supply of rice in the country, which would consequently lower its prices in the local markets.

“He wants to flood the market with rice so that even if the price of crude and other oil prices should go up still further, the people will have access to affordable rice,” he added. – GAN (FREEMAN)