Low-priced NFA rice always available for release to welfare agencies, LGU’s

Cagayan de Oro City – Low-priced rice of the National Food Authority (NFA) will always be available for release to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the local government units (LGU) during relief operations.

Thus assured Victoria R. Duray, Provincial Manager of NFA Misamis Oriental who said their warehouses will continue to be open even on Saturdays and Sundays to support the needs of these agencies which are most concerned with the relief distribution.

This is also to heed the call of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to extend all possible assistance to the flood victims of the city so they can go back to their normal lives, Duray said.

The relief operations have been brought about by the prolonged rains and consequent flooding not only in Cagayan de Oro but also in the other municipalities of Misamis Oriental, which started last January 3, this year.

Duray said they have continued to monitor the extent of the damages in the province to provide them the data needed in laying out the projected rice requirements of DSWD and the LGU’s and that the volume of stocks of the low-priced rice have been reserved for such purpose.

She said high-end varieties of rice availed of by NFA retailers inside major markets have curtailed any intention by unscrupulous traders to push their prices up, thus prices of commercial rice remain stabilized during these period.

Meanwhile, she said the re-packing of food packs for the account of the Philippine Amusement and Games Corp. (PAGCOR) and the Office of Religious Affairs were undertaken by their office in 3 batches:

1st batch - 5,000 packs distributed in Barangays Macasandig and Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City on Jan. 7, 2009.

2nd batch - 7,000 packs distributed in the various municipalities of Mis. Or. from Jan. 14-15, 2009.

3rd batch – 2,000 packs distributed by Pres. Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City on Jan. 21, 2009. (Rutchie Cabahug)

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