WITH the rise of the inflation rate and with the distribution of rice supply from the National Food Authority (NFA), the government will form a monitoring body for the surveillance of rice retailers who may take advantage of the inflation rate.
In a joint statement the Economic Development Center said, "The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), NFA, Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and farmer groups will form a monitoring team for surveillance of rice imports to NFA warehouses and retail outlets."
"And another interagency group was created and recommended to be created and it will see action within this week on the monitoring of these rice stocks from the ports, to the warehouses of NFA to the markets and to retailer markets," National Economic Development Authority (Neda)-Davao regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim said during a media forum on Monday, September 10, 2018 at Neda 11 office, Bangkal, Davao City.
NFA-Davao regional director Lester Romeo Malana said they would see to it that they are given the right figures of the rice supply for the Davao Region.
"Ang allocation natin dun is 370,000 bags of rice that's about 18,000 metric tons (MT). Yun siya ay for Davao Region, (Our allocation for that is 370,000 bags that's about 18,000 MT. That's for Davao Region)," Malana said, adding that they also cover General Santos City and Saranggani.
He also added that there would be another 370,000 bags of rice which will be added to their inventory by either the second or third week of September.
Lim assured Dabawenyos that rice supply is definitely available for the region, and there is no reason to panic.
