The National Food Authority (NFA) said it has started buying storm-damaged palay in Regions 1, 2 and 3 that were severely affected by Typhoon Karen (international code name Sarika) and Supertyphoon Lawin (international code name Haima).
The agency’s officer in charge, Tomas Escarez, said he has authorized field offices in the three regions to procure storm-damaged palay (SDP) from farmers. Field offices will be allowed to procure SDP for a period of one month.
The NFA said its base price for SDP is P11 per kilogram, but this will depend on its qualities, such as moisture content and purity. SDP with more than 80-percent damaged and discolored kernels will no longer be bought by the agency.
“The NFA’s procurement of SDP is in addition to our intensified buying operations in the 35 surplus areas across the country identified by the Philippine Statistics Authority [PSA],” Escarez said in a statement.
These surplus areas include Abra, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, San Jose and Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo.
The food agency attached to the Office of the President buys palay at the government support price of P17 per kg, plus a maximum of P0.70 per kg for incentives, P0.20 for drying fee, P0.20 for delivery fee and P0.30 for cooperative development-incentive fee.
Escarez said the funds that will be used in procuring SDP will come from the Calamity Fund or the President’s Social Fund. He also assured farmers that the NFA has the needed funds to buy their SDP using its regular cereal-procurement fund, while the agency awaits the money from the national government.
He also directed concerned NFA field officials to mobilize their procurement teams; prepare the necessary logistical requirements; and coordinate with their local government units and farmers’ organizations in identifying priority areas for the procurement of SDP.
As of October 24, the NFA said it has released a total of 25,075 bags of rice to relief agencies and LGUs for distribution to affected families in typhoon-hit areas.