Bad weather delays rice shipment for Region 8

PALO, Leyte, July 24  -- A series of weather disturbances in the past few weeks have been delaying the delivery of 240,000 bags of imported rice from Thailand meant for Eastern Visayas region.

National Food Authority (NFA) Regional Manager Henry Tristeza on Tuesday said the foreign vessel carrying 140,000 bags of Thai rice is stuck at Bacolod port for weeks and was unable to unload the allocation for Negros Island.

The vessel was scheduled to arrive in the region two weeks ago.

“As of today, the cargo ship unloaded 25,000 bags out of 80,000 bags intended for Negros Island. If the weather improves, unloading of remaining 55,000 will be completed within a week,” said Tristeza.

Another ship from Thailand carrying 100,000 bags is still taking shelter in the West Philippine Sea due to storm, the NFA regional chief said. The vessel was scheduled to arrive at Tacloban port on July 15.

Of the 240,000 sacks of rice, 62,000 bags are allocated for Leyte province, 25,000 for Southern Leyte, 15,000 for Biliran, 40,000 for Samar, 53,000 for Northern Samar, and 45,000 for Eastern Samar.

“We will prioritize allocating stocks to agencies tasked to respond to emergencies, local government units, and some accredited retailers,” Tristeza added.

The incoming stocks are expected to bring down the price of commercial rice in the market with the availability of NFA rice at only PHP32 per kilogram, the NFA said.

The new shipment will ensure the region of enough rice supply for at least a week if NFA will be the only source of staple food, the NFA official said.

The volume is only a small fraction of the 60-day buffer stocks target as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The country is supposed to receive the rice shipment between May to June, but it was delayed due to failure of bidding last April.

Since early this year, the NFA has stopped selling rice in the six Eastern Visayas provinces due to dwindling stocks. (SQM/PNA)