The National Food Authority (NFA) will accredit rice retail outlets operated by an indigenous people (IP) and a women’s group in the island of Boracay.

This was disclosed by Western Visayas regional director Angel G. Imperial Jr. yesterday.

In an interview, Imperial said they were “fortunate” to be with Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol and other regional heads last week who visited the Ati, and the women’s group.

“The first instruction and we really took heed is to accredit IP retailer outlets,” he said.

The regional director said an Aeta leader he met debunked the misconception that people in the island are used to high-end rice, noting there are others who also look for cheaper rice.

Imperial said he already instructed their Aklan manager to go back to Boracay and process the accreditations that will give people an option, especially that there is a lull and the income is small.

Initially, the plan is to accredit one IP retailer outlet. But now, they already have a cooperative and even have a sari-sari store, Imperial said.

He added that the NFA will be working with officials of the cooperative as well as the local chief executive and barangay officials where the IP group is located.

In addition, they will also accredit a women’s group in the island.

Last week, Piñol committed a P2 million financial support to the IPs and the Boracay women’s group through the Survival Recovery (SURE) loan program.

Each of the 45 Ati tribe families and 32 women’s households will receive P25,000 that they can use to start a sustainable community livelihood, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) in a press statement.

If interested, they can also avail of financing ranging from P5,000 to P50,000 with a 6 percent interest per annum under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program. (PNA)