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.

Nacion also noted that speculations about rice shortage in Metro Manila have prompted rice traders to limit the sale of rice to their clients in the provinces, a strategy also being applied in Negros Occidental by some rice retailers.

He, however, said the situation is back to normal now.

He attributed the increase in prices of rice to the high production of palay, which is now P25 per kilo.

Bejemino said there is no hoarding of rice, although there were reports of its regulated sale by some traders. He urged Negrenses to report any rice retailer or wholesaler who refuse to sell their stocks, so concerned government agencies can act on it.

NFA records show that about 24,700 bags of rice are being consumed everyday in Negros Occidental.

Board Members Renato Gustilo and Melvin Ibanez urged the NFA to be vigilant against rice hoarders, and that the government show a political will in prosecuting them.

Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz also called for the fast-tracking of the construction of the “irrigation highway”, not only in the fourth district of Negros Occidentall but also in other areas of the province.

The NFA has deputized mayors and barangay captains of Negros Occidental to help monitor prices of rice, while the police said it is ready to assist government agencies in running after rice hoarders and illegal traders who divert government-subsidized rice to the commercial market.

An estimated 120,000 bags of rice from Vietnam yesterday arrived at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, in addition to the 1.4 million bags of rice in Negros Occidental, Bejemino said.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, however, called the move of the Arroyo government to lift the 300,000 metric ton rice import quota for private traders “a step in the wrong direction” that, it said, will aggravate the rice crisis.

Bayan-Negros secretary general Felipe Levy Gelle claimed that dependence on imports weakens the NFA and strengthens the cartel of big private traders.*GPB

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