TABUK, Kalinga, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) here assured the public of enough rice supply for the province even after the recent onslaught of supertyphoon Juan which heavily damaged vast tracks of rice fields. Assistant NFA Manager Enrique Baliyang said they have 80,000 bags of rice for disposal in their warehouses and another 30,000 sacks of rice is set to be delivered in the province in the next several weeks. "Typhoon Juan has no effect on our rice supply.
Our stock is adequate to supply the province in the lean months of this year," he said. He reported that their warehouse incurred minimal damage with 52 skylights, parts of the warehouse roof, and dryer house door needing repair. "We are on the process of segregating damaged rice to ensure that the rice distributed are in good quality, their classification still on standard level, and free from contamination," Baliyang said. He added that rice stocks were also insured with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Baliyang said that 650 bags of rice were released after typhoon Juan. He said Pinukpuk local government unit (LGU) got 300 bags, Rizal - 150, Red Cross - 100, and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development - 100 cavans. To maintain good quality of rice, distributing local government units and institutions should establish stock rooms or mini-warehouse to stock pile the big volume of releases so that it will reach their intended beneficiaries in good condition, he said. "Or get from NFA in small volumes during distribution time so that the stock remain at NFA warehouse to avoid damage when stocked on non-secured places," he said. Kalinga has been described as the rice granary of the Cordillera because of the presence of vast tracks of agricultural lands that serve as the production areas for various types of rice. After the damage caused by the recent typhoon to the province's rice supply in the future, the provincial and municipal governments have come out with initial stop gap measures to allow thousands of farmers to recover from the damage to their crops. One of the major rice variety being produced by organic rice farmers in the province is the "tinawon" which is being exported to the United States and other European markets since it commands a higher price due to its aroma and good taste.
