MANILA — The National Food Authority (NFA) said Friday it has released a total of 3,325 bags of rice for distribution to victims of Typhoon Lawin.
“We assure the public that the NFA will always be here to immediately respond to the rice needs of calamity victims anywhere in the country,” said NFA officer-in-charge Tomas Escarez.
As of Oct. 19, the food agency has issued 1,420 bags of rice to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for its relief operations in La Union which received 720 bags; Tuguegarao, 300 bags; and Isabela, 400 bags.
The NFA also released the rice requirements of local government units (LGUs) affected by the recent typhoon in La Union, 20 bags; Eastern Pangasinan, 100 bags; Western Pangasinan, 396 bags; Tuguegarao (Cagayan), 320 bags; Allacapan, 291 bags; Isabela, 130 bags; Nueva Vizcaya, 86 bags; Aurora, 250 bags; Tarlac, 35 bags; and Camarines Norte, 6 bags.
The remaining 277 bags were released to other relief agencies in Tuguegarao (Cagayan), 100 bags; and Isabela, 177 bags.
Escarez said the NFA is in constant coordination with relief agencies for the immediate release of their rice requirement.
“We will continue to monitor the situation to assure the stable supply and prices of rice in these areas,” he said.
The NFA regularly monitors basic commodities in the affected areas.
NFA monitoring teams reported that supply and prices of commercial rice and other basic commodities remain stable. Prevailing rice market prices were monitored at PHP32 to PHP36 per kg.
Before ‘Lawin’ made landfall, the NFA had activated its Operations Center to ensure 24-hour response and monitor weather bulletins. Leslie Venzon/PNA-northboundasia.com