10M consumers shifting to commercial rice —Grecon

An estimated 10 million consumers have been compelled to shift to more expensive commercial rice given the low supply of the subsidized commodity from the National Food Authority (NFA), the Grains Retailers’ Confederation of the Philippines Inc. (Grecon) said Wednesday.

“Wala tayong makuha ngayon so pupunta sila sa commercial. Ang problema, hindi po natin maikukumpara ‘yung commercial at tsaka government rice dahil nga ‘yung bigas ng commercial, mataas talaga ‘yung kuha,” Grecon national president James Magbanua said in an interview on “Dobol B sa News TV.”

Magbanua noted some 10 million Filipinos buy NFA rice for its low price.

“Ang sineserbisyuhan ng government-subsidized rice, ‘yung NFA rice natin, is from 6 to 8 percent of the total population. Ibig sabihin mga 10 million Filipinos na umaasa sa NFA rice,” he said.

An NFA official told GMA News Online consumers have noted and reported to the NFA the noticeable shift towards commercial rice in the market.

“Even consumers are saying the same ... Admin [Jason] Aquino is having a meeting with grains businessmen now,” NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte said.

NFA rice sells the regular-milled variety for P27 a kilo and P32 a kilo for the well-milled version of the commodity.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the average retail price of regular-milled rice is selling for P38.58 a kilo, while the commercial well-milled rice sells for P42.51.

Over the weekend, the NFA suspended the distribution of rice to accredited retailers as the government decided to prioritize calamity victims and stockpile for islands at greater risk of calamities.

The supply of NFA rice was also affected by the decision to release about 140,000 bags of rice to affected families in war-torn Marawi City, the NFA said last month.

A total of 636,666 bags of rice were released by the NFA to victims of natural calamities last year, as well as to families affected by the Marawi siege.

“Walang maibigay na supply kasi inuna ‘yung mga nasa programa ng gobyerno, ‘yung sa DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) at tsaka sa ibang programs ng LGU (local government units),” Magbanua said.

“Pinaalam sa atin na pinaka-last priority ‘yung sa palengke na ibebenta sa public,” he said. —VDS, GMA News