By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The National Food Authority (NFA) assured there is an ample supply of rice in the province, as July marks the start of the lean months, or the period of the year where there is no harvest.

In a radio interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod yesterday morning, NFA-Negros Occidental Manager Marianito Bejemino said their warehouses are currently stocked with around 90,000 sacks of locally-produced rice.

Bejemino pointed out, rice from neighboring Panay is also entering the province.

He stated, with such a “plentiful supply” of rice, local traders are facing problems on how to liquidate the surplus, fearing it could create an oversupply, which could lead to lower prices.

Meanwhile, Bejemino said it is difficult to monitor the entry of old rice stocks that are supposedly being sold at markets.

He explained it is difficult to differentiate between mixed commercial rice and NFA rice.

Bejemino also said his agency is auctioning rice that has been in warehouses for over a year.

In addition, he discussed the suspicions of commercial traders selling rice different from the label on their products, and encouraged consumers to report any such findings to their office./DGB, WDJ