The National Food Authority (NFA) admitted that there is limited supply of rice in its inventory, which may affect the price movements of commercial rice amid expected inflationary pressure brought on by higher excise taxes on fuel products.
In a report by GMA News' Maki Pulido on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, the NFA refused to use the term "shortage" but said it had a limited supply of around 1.9 million bags of rice, which will last for three days.
"Kasi pinayagan lang tayo ng NFA Council to import 250,000 metric tons that was September... October, November ang arrival," NFA Director for Marketing Operation Rocky Valdez said.
The NFA has stopped the sale of NFA rice to accredited retailers in several areas including as Central Luzon, Western Mindanao, and Western Visayas, as the agency needs to set aside 700,000 bags for the use Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in times of calamity.
"There will come a time na titigil kami sa pagbenta sa accredited retailers until such as time na ma-replenish 'yung stock namin," Valdez said.
Apart from ensuring there will be a cheaper variety of rice available, the NFA rice is also used to balance the prices of commercial rice as there is no price control for the staple food.
The limited rice stock in NFA's inventory and the increase in the pump prices of petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law may result in the hike in the prices of commercial rice.
"Most likely, pero ang ginagawa ng NFA is coordinate sa stakeholders lalo sa millers na 'wag tatas nang masyado," Valdez said.
"Nakikiusap kami sa kanila na exercise social responsibility tutal sa consumer lang naman sila kumikita," he added.
The are no problem in the supply of commercial rice as the inventory of the rice industry players last up to 28 days, according to the NFA. —Ted Cordero/JST, GMA News
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