There is no rice shortage in Negros Occidental despite fears raised by some national politicians.

National Food Authority records as of March 19 showed that Negros Occidental had a total rice inventory of 1.4 million bags to last 61 days, Gov. Isidro Zayco  said.

Zayco said he was also informed that NFA also expects 120,000 bags of Vietnam rice to be delivered to Negros Occidental in early April.

NFA provincial manager Marianito Bejemino said the rice inventory of 1.4 million bags as of March 19 is higher compared to the 1.2 million bags in the same period last year.

The NFA has 169,855 bags of rice stored in its warehouses in Negros Occidental compared to 118,044 bags last year, Bejemino said.

The rest of the 1.4 million bags are with retailers, wholesalers, millers and retained by households, the NFA records show.

Bejemino said his office is keeping a close watch on the rice supply in the province and has mobilized NFA Monitoring Teams to monitor prices.

He called on all NFA accredited rice outlets such as the Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke, Tindahan Natin outlets and the Bigasan sa Parokya to strictly sell NFA rice at P18.25 a kilo.

The public is encouraged to report cases of NFA rice diversion, rebagging and overpricing by calling telephone number 433-27-54 and 434-78-20, Bejemino said.*CPG

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