CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan--The country has sufficient rice supply until the arrival of the government’s rice import for its buffer stocks.
This was assured by rice traders belonging to the Bulacan Rice Millers Association (BRMA) during a press conference on Friday on the launching of the “Tulong sa Bayan Caravan” initiated by the National Food Authority (NFA) in Bulacan.
The rice traders said that the consuming public has nothing to worry about a rice shortage since their members have sufficient rice stocks and are still in the process of procuring palay this peak rice harvest season.
The NFA in Bulacan has coordinated with the BRMA for the launching of the “Tulong sa Bayan Caravan” as part of the rice traders’ commitment to President Rodrigo Duterte to come up with a rice supply priced at PHP39 per kilo until the depleted NFA rice buffer stock has been replenished.
Elvira Cruz-Obana, NFA provincial manager, said that rice traders from the Intercity Industrial Estate and Golden City, a major rice trading center of the country based in Bocaue and Balagtas towns, initially provided 3,000 cavans of commercial rice that can be sold to rice consumers at PHP39 a kilo.
“This will be sold to retailers and end consumers on a wholesale basis and in turn, sell to the public at PHP39 a kilo,” Obana said.
She also said that no volume restrictions will be made on retailers since the rice is to be sold to the public at PHP39 a kilo.
Roderico Sulit, vice president of the Golden City Association and representative of the BRMA, explained that prices of ordinary commercial rice are actually being sold at wholesale price below the PHP39 a kilo, a price request of President Duterte.
“At this price, a 50-kilo sack will be sold for PHP1,950, whereas association members are selling at a wholesale price the ordinary commercial rice from PHP1,860-PHP1,900 that translate to PHP37.20-PHP38 per kilo, giving retailers a gross profit of PHP50-PHP90 per sack,” Sulit explained.
Meanwhile, Geevie David, vice president of the Intercity Industrial Estate Ricemillers Association, explained that rice and palay stocks of their members are expected to be sufficient until the lean months of July- September.
As a commitment to President Duterte, the association coordinated with NFA manager for Bulacan to have them use the agency’s facilities so that they can sell to retailers and end users the commercial rice at PHP39 per kilo.
On the other hand, Delanie Dinong of Gold Rush Ricemill said that they have also brought with them weighing scales and plastic bags so that consumers can buy on a per kilo basis from the “Tulong sa Bayan Caravan” located at the Malolos NFA warehouse. (PNA)
