Retailers of the so-called National Food Authority (NFA) rice in Metro Manila have not received their regular supply of the product for about one month now.
Ground reports from at least 10 rice store owners in Manila indicate, sellers of NFA rice had been told that the rice from the government agency had been sent to Mayon evacuees in Albay or in conflict-torn Marawi City.
Long-time NFA rice retailers used to get regular deliveries of 50 sacks per week.
The commodity would, in turn, be sold to the public at a price range of P 27 to P 32 per kilo.
Commercial rice is currently sold at about P 38 per kilo.
The most expensive in public markets is the Ifugao Organic Rice, which sells for P 53 per kilo.
NFA usually has a buffer stock of P 9.6 million metric tons of rice.
This is good for 15 days.
Right now, the NFA has reserves of just 1.2 million metric tons in its warehouses.