The National Food Authority (NFA) on Friday assured the steady and stable supply of food products, especially rice in areas severely affected by typhoon “Usman” that hit the country recently.

NFA acting Administrator Tomas R. Escarez said their employees have been working double-time in the affected provinces, to ensure the availability of the staple and prevent the product’s sudden and unwarranted spike in prices.

Escarez added that they already released a total of 8,730 bags of rice as of 3 January for relief operations in nine provinces especially those in Regions 4, 5 and 8.

“Our employees are rendering overtime work far from their families even during the holidays, to ensure that we can provide quick response when there is a need for us to deliver rice in areas it is needed” Escarez said.

Escarez also reported that the agency was fortunate because all their warehouses and facilities throughout the country were not affected by “Usman’s” onslaught.

Although not as strong as other previous super typhoons that visited the country, “Usman” nevertheless brought severe devastation to the country’s agriculture sector with the damage estimated to reach P528.5 million.

Aside from causing damage to property and agriculture, “Usman” also claimed 122 lives while 28 persons are still missing and 60 were injured.

This developed as Escarez said he has instructed all local offices to closely coordinate with local government units and various relief agencies to inform them of the availability of the staple.

To ensure that there is no unwarranted spike in prices and to assure consumers of the availability of affordable rice supply, the agency is also conducting price monitoring in areas affected by the storm.