Rice caravan to National Capital Region

March 29, 2020 Provincial

A rice caravan was made by the DA-NFA to the National Capital Region. Thirty (30) trailer trucks loaded with a total of 30,000 bags rice arrived at the North District Office of NFA in Valenzuela City.
“The rice caravan is part of the continuing rice transfer to NCR to replenish the government rice stocks in Metro Manila,” NFA Administrator Judy Carol L. Dansal said.
“With the outbreak of the covid19, priority is given to LGUs, lawmakers, DSWD, Pagcor and other relief institutions.
Their withdrawals have considerably increased; hence, rice transfer to NCR is NFA’s top priority,” Dansal added. Nearby Luzon regions provide the NCR’s rice requirements.
The rice delivery will cater not only to the needs of the North District Office (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela), but also those of the Central District Office (Quezon City, San Juan, Manila), East District Office (Marikina, Rizal Province, Pasig), South District Office (Taguig, Las Pinas, Pateros,Paranaque, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Muntinlupa) and the Cavite Provincial Office.
Earlier, Secretary Dar said that the country has sufficient rice inventory. The rice stocks of 2.661 million MT, inclusive of commercial, household, and government stocks, are good for about 67-day consumption.
For NFA, Administrator Dansal said that its rice stocks are 9.3 million bags, as the food agency continues to buy palay from local farmers. For 2020, it has bought a total of 2.3 million bags since January.
The rice caravan came from Ilocos Region (5 trucks), Cagayan Valley (10 trucks) and Central Luzon (15 trucks).
They were met by Secretary William Dar and NFA Administrator Dansal at NCR-NDO.