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The Department of Agriculture is eyeing the establishment of more
than 2,500 retail outlets in Metro Manila that will distribute and
sell state-subsidized, affordably priced government rice to
stabilize the price of the grains in the market.
“This project is part of the aggressive
procurement and distribution strategy to stabilize rice prices that
target the poorest of the poor as the main beneficiaries of the NFA
[National Food Authority] and US rice pegged at P18.25 and P25 per
kilo, respectively to an initial 400,000 beneficiary-families,”
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said.
In a report to President Gloria Arroyo and the
Cabinet, Yap bared that the NFA is aiming at operating 400 rolling
stores in Metro Manila, 146 Tindahan sa Parokya operated by
religious groups, 1,390 Tindahan Natin outlets, 324
Institutionalized Bigasan Ni Gloria sa Palengke supervised by NFA,
242 outlets operated by local governments and 9 NFA stationary
stalls to be involved in the pro-poor rice subsidy effort.
“The Agriculture department will also add
1,386 stores and selling points in Metro Manila for cheap NFA rice
to the existing 1,125 outlets, while the NFA will also deploy an
additional 328 units, aside from the existing 72 rolling stores
starting May 31,” Yap said.
-- Ira Karen Apanay
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