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NFA braces for lean months in Misor, Bukidnon
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
Cagayan de Oro City (29 June 2005) -- THE National Food Authority in Misamis Oriental is bracing for the 3rd quarter of the year, often described as the lean months by allocating more bags of rice compared to the other periods of the year.

During a recent interview at the “Normindanaw” TV program, Victoria R. Duray, provincial manager of NFA-Misamis Oriental, said, this year, some 326,000 bags of rice have been targeted for distribution to the entire province of Misamis Oriental comprising 24 municipalities and two cities to include five towns of Northern Bukidnon, particularly, Baungon, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Talakag and Libona.

The “Normindanaw” is simulcast over COC-TV39 and radio station DXJR based in Cagayan de Oro City, every Tuesday afternoon, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. hosted by Area Manager Olivia T. Sudaria of the Philippine Information Agency, Region 10.

“We wanted to be sure that NFA rice will really be available inside major and minor markets of these areas and that they are sold at the right price of P16/kg. for regular-milled and P18/kg. for well-milled rice. As such, we have allocated 20,000 sacks of rice each or 18.40% of our allocation for the entire year for the 1st and 2nd quarters,” Duray said.

However, “We had to make adjustments for the 3rd quarter as we will be experiencing the start of the lean months in July. By then NFA will increase its intervention in the market,” she further said.

Specifically for the period, 148,000 bags or 45.40% of the allocation will be distributed as follows: July, 50,000 bags; August, 58,000 bags; and September, 40,000 bags.

“After an expected harvest at the end of the 3rd quarter, another adjustment of 58,000 bags or 17.80% of the year’s allocation will be done during the 4th quarter: October, 20,000 bags; November, 18,000; and December, 20,000 bags” Duray again said.

Compared to actual sales, however, some 91,341 bags of rice have already been sold in the 1st quarter, while sales for April and May in the 2nd quarter have been placed at 84,757 bags, exceeding by 52.23% and 41.26%, respectively, the distribution targets of both periods.

Meanwhile, “We are now scouting for the strategic positions of our rolling stores and will be coordinating closely with the association of the grains retailers and the chief executives of local government units to help us monitor and ensure that NFA rice is sold at prescribed prices to our intended beneficiaries, the marginalized sector,” Duray emphasized.

On the other hand, during her June 16, 2005 visit to Northern Mindanao, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed that her administration is engrossed on the war to fight poverty and expressed delight that her economic agenda has started to bear fruit.

Bringing prices of commodities like rice under control is included among the concerns of Phase 2 of the said agenda. The others are stronger tax enforcement, energy conservation and increased initiatives to fight graft and corruption.

As Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said, the government is on track to bring in P85.3 billion more income taxes and that tax collections increased by 18% in May, this year.

“The country is moving towards a balanced budget by 2008. The gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to exceed 5% and there is no let up in the relentless campaign against graft and corruption in the national and local government levels—all dovetailing the vow of President Arroyo to push Phase 2 of her economic reforms,” he said. (PIA-10)

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