Metro Manila, Philippines – People in San Juan City were the first customers of cheap well-milled rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) under the declaration of a food security emergency.
The local government sold 1,000 sacks on Monday, Feb. 24, at city hall. Each 50-kilogram sack cost P1,650, or P33 per kilogram.
Jemma Reyes said this was much more affordable than the P60 rice they regularly buy.
“Okay naman sa quality na nakikita ko [The rice quality is fine],” she said.
“Sana may kalahati, merong isang sako, ‘kala ko merong per kilo, kailangan pala sako-sako,” said Juanito Valdez, also a resident, who would be trying out the NFA rice.
[Translation: I hope there are options like half-sack, one sack, per kilogram. I didn’t know it was on a per-sack basis.]
The local government conducted a pre-registration to check demand.
Zamora said the local government will buy another set of a thousand sacks with the possibility of repacking into smaller amounts.
“Kung magre-repack tayo, it will be in five-kilo packaging para mas madaling i-control or monitor,” he added.
[Translation: If we repack the NFA rice, it will be in five-kilogram packaging to easily control and monitor.]
The NFA will release around 150,000 metric tons of rice within six months.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said it’s a “race to finish” clearing out NFA warehouses.
Sixty-seven LGUs have expressed their intent to buy rice, the NFA previously said.
Laurel declared a food security emergency as rice prices did not significantly go down after a tariff cut on imported rice last year.
