Sufficient supply of
rice in Neg.Occ. assured 
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The problem is not the supply of rice but its price, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental found out yesterday from representatives of the Department of Agriculture, an organization of rice retailers, and  the National Food Authority, who were summoned to shed light on the rice situation of the province.

Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan yesterday said Negros Occidental produces 90 percent of its rice supply, with 10 percent sourced from other areas, while Marianito Bejemino, provincial chief of the National Food Authority, maintained that the province has enough supply of NFA rice.

Nonilo Nacion, president of the Rice Retailers Association of Negros Occidental, shared the observation of Tabianan and Bejemino, and said they have not observed any panic buying, or people lining up the streets to purchase rice..

Charges for violation of PD 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines, were filed yesterday against Brgy. Capt. Leandro de la Torre by Task Force Ilahas for the recovery of 628 board feet of regulated species of narra from his backyard in Brgy. Pandanon Silos, Murcia.

SPO1 Stanley Mendoza of the Task Force Ilahas said the complaint is now with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Negros Occidental.

De la Torre has denied reports that the narra lumber found in his backyard was for sale.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday ordered the creation of “Task Force Bantay–Bugas” to help monitor and ensure that the distribution of NFA rice is not sabotaged and sold at commercial rates in Bacolod City.

The Task Force is tasked to identify and monitor supplies and sales of rice by all rice dealers, suppliers, distributors and retailers in the city.

It will also keep tabs on variations of rice prices in coordination with the Local Price Monitoring Council, which was reorganized by the mayor to address concerns over the stability of prices and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities in Bacolod City.