A total of 72,000 bags of rice from Vietnam arrived in Bacolod City yesterday as part of the lean months' supply of the National Food Authority in Negros Occidental.

NFA Provincial Manager Gil Ibarra said the supply is part of the 600,000 bags or a total of 30,000 metric tons that will arrive in the province for the year.

He said that during the traditional lean months from June to August, the NFA is expected to provide 25 to 30 percent of Negros Occidental's rice supply.

The province consumes 20,000 bags of rice daily. Also expected to arrive this month are the 2,000 bags of iron-fortified rice from Iloilo.

Last week, the NFA regional office in Iloilo received 15,800 metric tons of iron-fortified rice for shipment to various provinces in Western Visayas.

Ibarra said that the initial shipment for Negros Occidental will be allocated to the Food-for School Program of the Department of Education in partnership with the NFA.

He said the beneficiaries are 1,700 grade one pupils and pre-schoolers from 12 schools in Don Salvador Benedicto and six schools in San Enrique.

Food fortification is provided under Republic Act 8976 that calls for fortification of rice, flour, refined sugar and cooking oil to address the serious problem on micronutrient malnutrition, including Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine.*NLG

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