 | NFA guarantees good quality rice for LGU relief efforts |
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The National Food Authority (NFA) assures the general public that its rice distributed to local government units (LGUs) is of good quality.
The assurance was made by NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal in her report to Agriculture Secretary William Dar, dispelling an unverified television news item that showed some Virac, Catanduanes typhoon victims, who complained on receiving food packs with sub-standard rice.
According to the TV report, the provincial government of Virac denied distributing the inferior-quality rice. However, the TV program suggested that the rice came from the NFA-Catanduanes.
Administrator Dansal said the NFA should not be held liable, stressing that “is not of our doing.”
“We are focused on our mandate to maintain the country’s rice buffer stocks, and we assure that the NFA rice sold and distributed to local government units, particularly in times of calamity, is of good quality,” she added.
Dansal said the NFA rice was procured and repacked by the Catanduanes Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO), which stored them at the Catanduanes provincial capitol prior to the onslaught of Typhoon “Quinta” on October 25.
The rice was then included in food packs distributed by the PSWDO to typhoon-affected families, including those in Barangay Igang (who were interviewed by a TV reporter) on November 3, after typhoon “Rolly” hit on November 1.
For its part, the Catanduanes PSWDO clarified that their office has been very cautious, in that they only pack good-quality food items. However, it is not dismissing the fact that the repacked goods could have been damaged while in storage. The PSWDO also verified that the rice stocks received from the NFA warehouse were of superb quality.
Meanwhile, Secretary Dar has ordered Administrator Dansal to continuously respond to the immediate needs of LGUs, whose constituents were displaced by typhoons and other natural calamities.
Last Sunday, November 15, in Tuguegarao City, Secretary Dar reported to President Rodrigo Duterte that the NFA donated P41-million worth of rice for the benefit of flood-affected families in Cagayan and Isabela, who received 14,500 bags worth P18M, and 18,500 bags worth P23M, respectively.
Last week, thousands of typhoon Rolly victims in Catanduanes also received 20,000 bags of NFA rice.
Early this week, the DA-NFA also donated 1,000 bags each to the City of Marikina and Municipality of San Mateo, Rizal, for the benefit of flood victims due to typhoon Ulysses.
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