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CEBU CITY, Philippines - Several municipalities in Cebu are selling rice stocks allocated by the National Food Authority (NFA) at P20 per kilo, up from P18.50 per kilo, local officials told the Provincial Development Council in yesterday's meeting.
Samboan Mayor Raymond Calderon said local officials like him were accused by constituents of earning from the sale of NFA rice at P20 per kilo in lieu of the previous P18.25 per kilo price.
?While the (P20 per kilo) rice sold to the LGUs are more expensive, these are of the same quality as the cheap NFA rice,? said Medellin Mayor Ricky Ramirez.
The local officials called on the NFA and the PDC to allow them to sell NFA rice at P18.50 per kilo.
NFA provincial manager Nestor Rey Alcoseba said the change in prices is in compliance with a national government policy that supports local rice producers.
?The last quarter of the year is harvest months (for the local producers). (By this time of the year), the NFA would pull out of the market (imported rice that are cheaply sold) to allow local produce to come in,? he said.
Alcoseba said they distribute NFA rice stocks from local producers to the LGUs at P20 per kilo and allocate cheap imported rice sold at P18.25 per kilo to Tindahan Natin outlets.
Around 66 Tindahan Natin outlets were spread out in various towns in Cebu.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia reminded Alcoseba of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Cebu provincial government and the NFA that assured the provision of the same rice stocks provided to Tindahan Natin outlets.
?We hope that we will get immediate attention. Obviously there is already price discrimination here,? Garcia said.
The NFA official said he will elevate the matter to their central office.
Garcia also called on Alcoseba to address the reduction in rice stock allocations to towns, following a complaint she received from a parish priest in Alcantara town.
