Personnel from the Philippine Army assist in the loading of rice stocks from scale to truck to fast-track the withdrawal of 8,000 bags by the Provincial Government of Bohol from the warehouse of the National Food Authority-Bohol branch. NFA-Bohol branch manager is shown in the photo above (inset, upper right corner). Contributed photo
True to its mandate of rice bufferstocking in times of calamities or emergencies, National Food Authority (NFA)-Bohol Branch addressed the rice requirements of government and private relief institutions for families affected by typhoon Odette, which recently hit the province of Bohol.
According to Branch Manager Maria Fe Evasco, NFA Bohol immediately activated its Operations Center (OpCen) on Dec. 16, 2022 to ensure frontline services even during weekends and holidays to cater to various rice purchases intended for relief operations.
To date, a total of 31,472 bags of rice were distributed through various Local Government Units (22,497 bags), Department of Social Welfare and Development (6,400 bags), Philippine National Red Cross (58 bags), National/Local Legislators (1,313 bags), Office of the Vice President (500 bags) and government/private relief institutions (704 bags).
NFA Bohol also coordinated with its Regional Office to facilitate the shipment of rice stocks from various source provinces to augment its rice stocks.
As the province of Bohol continually faces the challenges of Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic and the recovery efforts from the aftermath of typhoon Odette, Evasco assures that NFA will efficiently and effectively perform its mandate of palay procurement and bufferstocking for rice distribution and emergency response.