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The program aims to address micronutrient deficiency, a most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the country.
NFA has also tapped the rice retail outlet of Grace Tamayo to sell the iron-fortified commercial rice supplied by Alberto Lumbayan Rice Mill.
Iron-fortified commercial rice in accredited rice outlets in various parts of North Cotabato sells at P25.00 per kilogram.
NFA-North Cotabato provincial manager Fernando Nuñez said rice fortification is the homogenous blending of rice and iron rice or fortificant.
“Consumers have nothing to worry [about] because rice fortified with iron has no effect on the taste and sensory characteristics both on the raw and cooked rice,” Nuñez explained.
Meanwhile, the NFA Region-12 headed by Ernesto Macasinag has started distributing NFA iron-fortified rice in the markets through its accredited rice outlets throughout the region.
Nuñez disclosed that in the province of North Cotabato, their office has distributed a total of 19, 987 bags of iron fortified rice to the accredited rice outlets and Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke.
He said the price of NFA iron-fortified rice is only P18.00 while that of its commercial counterpart is P25.00 per kilogram.
“The primary strategy of the government to address the ‘hidden hunger’ is through Republic Act 8976, an act establishing food fortification program that mandates fortification of staple food like rice with iron,” he concluded. (Williamor A. Magbanua/MindaNews)