The National Food Authority (NFA) is aiming to purchase 251,000 bags of palay or unhusked rice for Palawan this 2019, said its newly-designated provincial manager.
But if it proves hard to achieve, new provincial NFA chief Alwin Uy said Thursday they will be happy to attain at least 50 percent of their total target.
“Target namin na procurement for 2019 is 251,000 na napakahirap namin magagawa. Actually, noong 2018 ang na-procure lang ay mahigit 4,000. May target kami ngayon na 251,000 at ‘yan ang aming paplanuhin at aaralin ni assistant provincial manager (Nerilyn Conde),” he added.
He said out of the total target of 77,000 bags of palay, the local NFA was only able to purchase 4,863 from farmers in known municipal rice granaries in the province such as Narra, Brooke’s Point, and Coron, including Puerto Princesa City.
Uy said some of their plans is to check warehouses, talk to the farmers to “consolidate their thoughts and concerns”, and to make the buffer stocking incentive work.
“Ang aking unang gagawin ay ikutan lahat ng bodega at ‘yong procurement areas kung saan may plantation ng rice,” he added.
Towards December last year, he said the P3.00 buffer stocking incentive that was added to the P17.00 palay purchasing price by the NFA worked. As of the middle of January, they already have 400 bags in their warehouse.
Uy, who officially assumed the provincial NFA position Thursday from Ma. Lewina Tolentina during a turnover ceremony, expects to see cooperation from the employees and personnel which could help achieve all their targets.
He said he hopes they will implement “fair client treatment”, obey the “no gift” policy, and deliver efficient and honest service.
“Kung dati nang mabilis ang services, gusto ko na mas mabilis pa. Ayaw ko na may pilahan, ayaw ko na may nag-aantay, ayaw ko na may nasisimangutan, ayaw ko na may napagagalitan na kliyente natin. Kabilin-bilinan ko sa kanila na tayo ay magbigay-galang ‘yan man ay nakayapak o nakabarong, naka-amerikana, iisang treatment ang ibibigay natin,” he added.
Uy started at the technical department of the NFA before he became a supply officer, warehouse supervisor, and promoted to executive assistant under three administrators.
He also served as the provincial manager of the NFA in Infanta, Quezon before he was transferred to Lucena and to Laguna.
Uy also holds a civil engineering license.
