The National Food Authority in Negros Occidental surpassed its rice distribution target in 2007 by 113 percent, posting an actual distribution of 726,786 bags through its 466 accredited rice outlets, a press release from NFA said.

These rice outlets include 326 Tindahan Natin outlets, 92 Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke, 28 accredited individual retailers outside market, and 20 Bigasan sa Parokya.

NFA provincial manager Marianito Bejemino said the growth can be attributed to the competitiveness of NFA rice in terms of price and quality, the press release said.

NFA sells rice at P18.25 per kilo compared to the average prevailing price of commercial rice last year of P26.29 per kilo for well-milled rice and P22.33 per kilo for regular-milled rice.

In Tindahan Natin outlets, 189,734 bags were sold while under the NFA-Department of Education-Food for School Program, 3,396 bags of iron-fortified rice were released last year to 6,658 schoolchildren from elementary schools in San Enrique and Don Salvador Benedicto, the press release said.

NFA also gave rice assistance of 510 bags last year to calamity-stricken areas under the NFA Disaster Preparedness Program. Beneficiaries were the towns of Calatrava, Valladolid and San Enrique and the cities of Bago and Bacolod .

Farmers Organizations participating under the “Institutionalized Farmers as Distributors Program” withdrew 2,900 bags of imported rice each, the press release added.*

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