The National Food Authority administrator yesterday assured that there will be stable rice supply during the “lean months” that start in July.

Renan Dalisay, NFA administrator, who paid a courtesy call on Negros Occidental Gov Alfredo Marañon Jr. at the Capitol in Bacolod City, said he is visiting NFA offices in Western Visayas to ensure there is adequate rice supply.

“Ensuring a stable rice supply would also ensure that rice prices are low," he said.

Region 6 has a 15-day buffer stock, and Negros Occidental has 22-day buffer stock of rice, he said.

"My policy is to lower rice prices," he said, pointing out that current market prices for rice are pegged at P32 per kilo from P40.
Secretary Francis Pangilinan, Presidential Assistant for Food Security, has directed NFA personnel "to prepare for the lean months so that rice prices will not increase."

"Traditionally rice prices go up starting January but right now the prices are stable. We are trying to ensure stable rice supply for the prices to remain stable until December this year,” Dalisay said.
He said it will be up to the Food Security Committee, an inter-agency committee, to decide if the government still needs to import rice from other Asian countries, he pointed out.

"It will depend on the rice production of the country. I believe they will meet to assess the impact of the drought being experienced by the country right now,” Dalisay said.*CPG

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