NFA Davao to increase market share of low-price rice this July

DAVAO CITY- The National Food Authority will increase its rice in the market this July.

According to NFA-I Regional Director Edgar Bentulan, they are releasing 160,000 bags to the market which is 19.27% of the market share in the rice requirement in Davao Region.

In Davao City they will be releasing 73,624 bags or 24% of the market share in the rice requirement of the City.

These rice bags are low-priced NFA rice sold at P27 and P32 per kilo.

Bentulan said the additional volume was part of the directive given by NFA administrator Arthur Juan to ramp up the level of penetration in the market.

Bentulan said that the rice Supply in the region is adequate with stocks good for 30 days. Davao City has stocks good for 55 days.

The month of June signifies the beginning of the lean season for rice production in the country, according toGrain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (GRECON) Davao City chapter vice-president Salvio Arguelles.

 Arguelles said that currently only high-end rice prices have gone up.

He added that there is still enough supply of low end and middle-price rice, which poor consumers could still avail. This is unlike the rice crisis in 2008 where rice prices soared in record highs. Arguelles said during that time even low-end rice was scarce.

Meanwhile Bentulan said the NFA is doing its best to be accessible to Dabawenyos, currently there are about 140 NFA outlets in Davao City.

Councilor Bernard Al-ag of Davao City has authored a resolution in the City Council urging the NFA to open rice outlet in every barangay in the city. (PIA/RG Alama)