The National Food Authority has tapped the help of the Church in Negros Occidental in the sale of its rice and is also looking into the possibility of utilizing local government units, Gov. Isidro Zayco said.

NFA rice sells at P18.25, which is much lower than commercial rice with prevailing market prices for regular milled rice at P28 to P30 per kilo, and well milled at P31 to per 36 kilo.

Zayco said he was informed that the NFA regional office was studying whether they need the help of the LGUs in the distribution, and NFA Regional Director Vilma Zarraga said she is waiting for guidelines from the NFA head office on this.

But she assured that Western Visayas has a rice surplus, while President Gloria Arroyo yesterday also said the country’s rice supply is secure in the “foreseeable future”.

Western Visayas has a   surplus of about 3 million bags of rice, Zarraga said.

“Panay is a rice-producing area, it is only Negros Occidental that needs to import rice to augment its needs and we have enough supply from Panay to cover that, on top of importations from abroad and other provinces,” she said.

NFA provincial manager Marianito Bejemino said a meeting with local officials will be held in Cebu on April 15 on whether there is a need for LGUs to take part in the rice distribution, as this may only be necessary on a case-to-case basis.

He said, so far, there are 20 NFA Bigasan sa Parokya outlets in the three dioceses of Negros Occidental.

Zayco said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap had said that rice prices are expected to normalize next month.

Meanwhile, he said, local governments in Negros may implement food-for-work programs as mitigating measures.

Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said he still believes that there is enough rice for the needs of Negros and there is no need to panic and hoard.

He appealed to those who have money not to resort to rice hoarding or the poor will suffer.

Arroyo yesterday unveiled a three-phase government action plan to ensure the steady supply of affordable rice in the country amid a tightening inventory of the cereal worldwide, a Malacañang press statement said.

First, is to secure supply; second, to ensure proper distribution, and third, to guarantee enforcement of laws to protect the people against corruption and price-gouging, the president said.

''We can report that our supply is secure for the foreseeable future,'' the President said, pointing out that   500,000 metric tons of rice have already arrived as part of the government’s procurement program to fill the historical gap between production and consumption of the staple in the country.

She said 70 percent of the 500,000 metric tons came from Vietnam; 30 percent, from Thailand.

Other shipments with a combined total of 700,000 metric tons are arriving this month, in May and June, she also   said.

 “Another bidding is set in May for rice deliveries in June, July and August for the balance of the 500,000 metric tons,” she added.

''The government is sparing no effort to ensure that our supplies of rice get from their source to the tables of Filipinos throughout our nation. We are going to enlist the faith-based community...our churches and mosques – to deliver relief to our poor in terms of essential supplies of rice and other basic communities,'' she said.

To protect consumers from unscrupulous rice traders, the President stressed that she is “leading the charge to crack down on any form of corruption by public or private officials who would divert supplies or pervert the price of this essential commodity in any way.''

The president said ''It would be unfortunate if panic overtook logic, for we will endure and survive this moment and come through stronger.''

She called on the private sector, civil society and the faith-based community to work with the government in helping the poor.

Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros yesterday called for price controls and other economic relief for poor consumers as the prices of rice, oil, flour and other basic commodities escalate.

“The consumers should not be left at the mercy of the free market. It is the government’s role to protect the consumers in time of crisis. There should be at least some protection from skyrocketing prices,” Felipe Levy Gelle Jr., Bayan Negros secretary general, said.

Last month the price of rice started to increase sharply by P 5-10 per kilo and is expected to rise to P40-P60 per kilo by June this year. The price of bread and other bakery products is on the rise, too, Gelle added.

In the coming days, we are to face rising transportation cost, electricity, water and other consumer products, he also said.

“Government should stop acting as if it’s helpless in the face of the crisis. Consumers are growing restless over the successive economic black eyes that they have faced the past month,” he added.

BAYAN and its allied organization are joining the “Gahod sang mga Gutom” noise barrage as an expression of their condemnation of the inutility of the Arroyo regime in solving the rising prices of food and other commodities in front of the Bacolod City Hall at 3 p.m. today, Gelle said.*CPG

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