By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – Consumers lauded the government’s efforts to reduce rice prices as they availed of the National Food Authority (NFA) rice sale worth PHP33 per kilogram or PHP1,650 per sack on Monday in San Juan City.
San Juan is one of the initial participating local government units (LGUs) during the first release of NFA rice stock in Valenzuela City on Feb. 19 under the declaration of a food security emergency for rice.
Other LGUs include Valenzuela, Navotas, and Camarines Sur, while 67 LGUs also expressed their intent to procure NFA rice stocks from the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI).
During the first day of the PHP33/kg NFA rice sale in San Juan, Jennifer Francisco, 48, said the cheaper rice will be beneficial for their family as she tries to stretch her budget for her four children alongside grandchildren.
“Ang binibili ko po kasi, kulang-kulang PHP60 per kilo, pero ngayon mas malaki po ang matitipid namin sa PHP33. Bale iyong sobra doon sa pambili namin ng bigas, pwede kong ipandagdag sa pambili namin ng ulam (What I usually buy is the rice worth almost PHP60/kg but now we save so much from PHP33. So, I can use what I have saved to cover our viand,” Francisco, a San Juan resident, said in an interview.
Ivy Ramos, 56, another San Juan resident who has a rice farm in Nueva Ecija, said they will check the quality of rice both for their consumption and for their pets at home.
“Willing kaming i-try itong bigas na ito, konsumo na rin na sa amin (We are willing to try this rice, for our consumption),” Ramos said, citing their usual preference of consuming either their harvest or imported premium rice.
As a “fur mom” of 30 dogs, Ramos also expressed her gratitude since the 50-kg volume will likely last for a month-long consumption, which is a much lower price compared to the PHP45/kg usual expense for rice for her pets.
“Malaking tipid kagaya ko sa maraming alagang hayop. Ayaw nila ng dog food. So, ang mini-mix ko gulay, karne, at bigas… Kaya ito ang laking tipid, pwede nila itong makain sa isang buwan (This is a huge saving for me who has many animal pets. They don’t want dog food. So, I’m mixing vegetables, meat, and rice… That;s why this is a huge saving, they can consume this for a month),” she added.
Both Francisco and Ramos are eligible buyers in San Juan as they secured pre-registration for the purchase of 50 kgs of NFA rice.
The San Juan LGU procured at least 1,000 sacks last Feb. 19 for immediate disposal to its constituents.
Metro Manila council president and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said they have “fully allocated” all the initially purchased NFA rice through the FTI.
“Mahalaga itong araw na ito dahil ito iyong magiging template po natin sa posibleng gawin po sa iba’t ibang LGUs sa (This day is very important since this can be the template which may possibly be used by other LGUs in) Metro Manila,” he said.
“Sa ngayon po, ay nagbebenta tayo kada sako (For now, we are selling it per sack). But we can adjust accordingly kapag meron pong demand ng tingi-tingi (if there’s a demand for retail or per kilo orders),” he added.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. joined the San Juan LGU in the first day sale of NFA rice to consumers under the food security emergency for rice declaration.
Tiu Laurel, however, said it will be a “race to finish” sale to free up spaces in NFA warehouses nationwide and give way for the palay (unhusked rice) procurement during the upcoming peak harvest season.
Participating LGUs nationwide will be given around 625,600 bags monthly allocation, equivalent to more than 150,000 metric tons for the next six months, according to the NFA. (PNA)
