MANILA, April 9 -- The National Food Authority (NFA) expressed confidence on Tuesday in securing the country's rice buffer stock despite local competition with traders.

In an interview, NFA administrator officer-in-charge Larry Lacson said there is no need to worry considering the high productivity of rice amid the peak harvest season.

"Confident tayo na madadagdagan pa iyong ating stocks. Makakahabol pa tayo sa harvest season na ito (We are confident that we will increase our stocks. We will be able to catch up this harvest season)," he said.

The NFA needs to secure around 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice for its nine-day minimum national rice buffer stock, using the buying price set at PHP19/kg for wet palay (unhusked rice) and PHP23...