30,500 bags of NFA rice delivered to Samar

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
April 17, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  As President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed in Batangas City Monday, the unloading of seven truckloads of commercial rice from Oriental Mindoro bound for markets in Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (CALABARZON) and Metro Manila, poor Samareños also witnessed the unloading of some 30,500 bags of NFA rice from Cebu.

Rosario Cadiz tipped off PIA that the delivery from Cebu was a little delayed because of typhoon Ambo.

Tuesday, in the morning, the unloading was done at Pier Uno, Catbalogan City.

Long lines of NFA rice buyers have been always observed in Catbalogan City.

Aside from the four PGMA Tindahan Natin outlets in the public market, a new outlet in the Catbalogan City Hall was made available.

NFA Samar Manager Francisca Mercado said that upon request, NFA could install Tindahan Natin outlets in government offices.

At the Samar Capitol Site where NFA is located, Imelda Park fronting the office is always swarmed with buyers even those who are better off, said the security guard who issues priority numbers for order.

Meanwhile, commercial rice in the public market costs P31, P32 or P33 per kilo.

With the close to 50% difference, buyers prefer the NFA well milled rice, said a stall owner.

There is supply though from farmers who have just completed the harvest but it has been affected by the floods that plagued the region in February when most palay were in their fruiting stage, agriculturists offered.

The office of Rep. Sharee Ann Tan has started distributing certified seeds to farmers for the next cropping season.

Farmers from Pinabacdao are hopeful that natural calamities would for the meantime shy away from Samar so better yield would be achieved the next harvest.