The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday assured sufficient supply of the PHP20 per kilo rice under the Benteng Bigas Meron Na (BBM Na) in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites.

The DA made the statement following the temporary depletion of stocks under the P20 program in select Kadiwa sites amid rising demand for the government-subsidized rice last week.

In an ambush interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) have adjusted the system to ensure replenishment of rice stocks.

“Wala tayong problema pagdating sa imbentaryo o volume na gagamitin para dito sa P20. Wala nang mauubusan (We don’t have a problem in terms of inventory or volume for the P20. It will not run out anymore),” he said at the sidelines of the first edition of the Philippines Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum in Ortigas, Pasig.

“Magkakaroon ng konting problema o issue sa mga delays kasi natural ‘yun, [may] konting (There might be some problem or issue in delays because it’s normal to have some minor) issues. But AMAS and FTI are both working on this.”

At the central office alone, the agencies were able to increase their selling capacity from just 200 slots during the onset of the tensions in the Middle East.

“More than 1,000 na every day ‘yung slots (There are already more than 1,000 slots every day). The same is happening to other areas,” de Mesa pointed out.

These slots are available from four to five days a week, he added.

The National Food Authority (NFA) earlier released at least 10,000 bags of aging but good-quality rice stocks for the BBM Na program.

As of the end of March, the NFA has more than 400,000 metric tons of rice stock inventory that is good for 15 days of the country’s daily consumption, including aging stocks, de Mesa said. (PNA)