AMPLE SUPPLY OF RICE. Isabela province has at least 500,000 bags of palay and 10,000 sacks of rice, enough to supply the residents until after the enhanced community quarantine is lifted. National Food Authority provincial manager Elimar Regindin (in photo) gave the assurance as he inspects the palay at a warehouse in the province on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (Photo courtesy of NFA-Isabela)
SANTIAGO CITY – Isabela province has at least 500,000 bags of palay and 10,000 sacks of rice in store, enough to last until after the enhanced community quarantine is lifted, the National Food Authority (NFA) provincial manager said.
Elimar Regindin, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday that the province has sufficient rice buffer stock as milling operations continue unhampered amid the prevailing health crisis.
The NFA rice mills are open 12 hours daily, he said.
"We also continuously open our 22 buying stations strategically located around Isabela province to buy palay produced by farmers," he added.
Regindin said they also tapped local government units to assist them in buying palay from farmers.
Isabela is one of the provinces in Cagayan Valley which has been regularly supplying milled rice to Metro Manila.
Regions 1 (Ilocos), 3 (Central Luzon), and 4-A (Calabarzon) have also been supplying rice to the metropolis, Regindin said. (PNA)
