Lower rice prices in Kalinga expected as NFA eases restrictions

By Larry Lopez

TABUK CITY, Kalinga– Provincial folks here are expected to buy rice at much lower prices as the National Food Authority provincial office here eased  requirements in application of bigasan ng bayan outlets  in line with its rice distribution program.

Under this new policy, application is open to small entrepreneurs interested in starting rice retail as bigasan ng bayan outlet even without other business.

NFA-Kalinga assistant  provincial  manager RicBaliang said the move assures more outlets of government-subsidized rice to be set  up in the province.

Before, bigasan ng bayan retailers must be existing business operators, Baliang disclosed.

NFA’s cheap rice distribution is covered under the government mandate to provide sufficient food on the table to every Filipino family, he  said.

Bigasan ng bayan sells rice at P25/kilogram   compared to commercial rice sold by private traders at P33-37/kg.

In reaching out to poor communities, NFA also  tied-up with other government agencies. 

Under the tie-up, NFA bigasan ng bayan outlets are opened as component of barangay food terminal projects established in target barangays by the Department of Agriculture  as source of low-price commodities.

Baliang said with NFA’s softened   policy on bigasan accreditation, more poor families would benefit from cheap government rice in Kalinga.