The National Food Authority in Negros Occidental said in a statement yesterday its has surpassed its rice distribution target in 2005 by 103 percent, registering actual distribution of 503,005 bags through its 97 accredited rice outlets in the province.

Rice outlets include individual grains retailers and Bigasang Bayan outlets.

NFA Provincial Manager Gil Ibarra said the growth can be attributed to their competitiveness in terms of price and quality of rice. He said that the NFA still sells well-milled rice at P18 per kilo compared to the prevailing price of commercial rice of P24.50 per kilo for well-milled rice and P21 per kilo for regular-milled rice. Ibarra said that grains industry inventory as of Dec. 31, 2005 totaled 1,085,572 bags sufficient for 57 days, including NFA's stocks of 44,367 bags.

Meanwhile, registration and licensing officer Melvyn Redil called on grains businessmen from the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Victorias and the towns of E.B. Magalona and Manapla to renew their business licenses this 2006.

Redil said old license are required for validation.

Last year, registered were 1,727 grains businessmen in the province, with a total collection of P2.52 million in license fees.

NFA will also accept application for revalidation and accreditation of Bigasang Bayan outlets and individual grains retailers until Jan. 31, 2006.*

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