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Buffer stocks of rice are filling some warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA), a situation that could burden local farmers if these would not be released ahead of harvesting season this February.

According to Bernadette Reyes’ report in 24 Oras Thursday, the scenario in some warehouses last year was different when the buffer stock of rice was scarce.

“Karamihan ng dumarating samin galing sa Region 3 - Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan. Meron din po dumarating galing ng Region 2,” said warehouse supervisor Rodolfo Rubinas, Jr.

(Most of our stocks came from Region 3 — Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan. There are also stocks coming from Region 2.)

Warehouses in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 are full of buffer stocks, the NFA said.

The stocks from these warehouses will be released to the market to lower rice prices. But the NFA is still waiting for  the Department of Agriculture’s declaration of a food security emergency on rice.

Further, the NFA pointed out that these stocks must be released before the February harvest. If this will not happen, it will be impossible to purchase rice from farmers.

“Medyo malilimitahan kami in terms of buying kasi nga hindi kami pwedeng makapag-full blast dahil nga puno pa ang bodega,” said Larry Lacson, NFA administrator.

(We will be limited in terms of buying because our warehouses are still full.)

“Kami hangga't kaya namin magre-rent kami ng warehouse pero again that's another cost na babawas na naman doon sa... kumbaga sa binigay na budget na kulang nga.”

(We try to rent warehouses as much as we can, but this will be another cost that we will have to shoulder from our limited budget.)

The rice stocks are planned to be released by February 1 but this could change, the DA said as it is still awaiting the resolution of the National Price Coordinating Council that urges the department to declare a food security emergency for rice.

“We are hoping sana ma-release sa amin by Monday. But  of course, we are a government of bureaucracy and we have to wait for the final approved signed copy,” said Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa.

(We are hoping that the resolution will be released to us by Monday. But of course, we are a government of bureaucracy, we have to wait for the final approved signed copy.)

Source : msn