By Tracy Cabrera

Despite the devastation of the recent onslaught of super typhoon Kristine (international name Trami) on agricultural areas in the Bicol region and some parts of Region III, the National Food Authority (NFA) has reported that the volume of rice buffer stock has remained stable and thanks to the new pricing scheme implemented by the government.

In a television interview, NFA administrator Larry Lacson disclosed that NFA warehouses has already secured enough palay with its higher buying price range set at ₱17 to ₱23 per kilogram of fresh or wet palay and ₱23 to ₱30/kg of clean and dry palay.

He added that palay procurement is still ongoing to secure the 300,000 MT of rice buffer stock target.

Lacson likewise reported that the Department of Agriculture is set to sell rice, which will not be acquired from the NHA’s buffer stock, at a ceiling price of ₱42/kg in Metro Manila.

He also cited the earlier supply provided to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), as well as the availability of rice in the private sector and households.

“(Sa) tingin ko hindi tayo dapat kabahan. Unang-una, mayroon kaming stocks na na-triple. So, ‘pag kailangan pa ng DSWD, OCD, makakapagbigay po tayo,” he assured.

Meanwhile, the NFA chief revealed that they are already coordinating with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), the private sector and non-profit organizations, among others, to secure drying facilities for the current wet harvest season.

“Hindi pupuwede mabulukan tayo ng palay so critical po talaga iyong facilities natin, iyong paghahanda ng drying facilities,” he concluded.