The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Oriental has started distributing the one-time rice aid to national government employees as mandated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Benilda Fidel, NFA-Negros Oriental branch manager, told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that each qualified government employee will receive 25 kilos of rice.

As of posting time, the agency had already released 8,000 50-kilo rice bags for 16,000 individual beneficiaries from different agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd and Philippine National Police (PNP), Fidel said.

Aside from national government agencies, state universities and colleges are covered by the one-time rice allowance provided that their names are on the master lists furnished by the Department of Budget and Management, she added.

She reassured the recipients of good quality rice procured from Mindoro, dispelling the old impression that NFA rice is of “poor quality.”

“Buying rice from local farmers instead of imported rice from Vietnam, such as in previous years, for purposes such as this, or distribution during calamities, is one way of helping our fellow Filipinos,” she said.

Fidel said there is still no word as to whether the NFA can also give rice assistance to local government units due to a lack of funds.

She said national government agencies, especially for larger organizations like the DepEd, that will be availing of the rice assistance on behalf of their employees will have to secure a special power of attorney for the smooth and fast releasing of the rice bags in volumes instead of individually. (PNA)