Manila, July 23 -- The National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday assured the public that it is ready to release rice stocks in areas hit by Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha) and the enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat."

The assurance was made despite earlier reports of flooding near NFA warehouses in Occidental Mindoro and Valenzuela.

In a Viber message, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said all rice stocks remain intact as NFA warehouses nationwide are unaffected by the inclement weather.

"All secured. No damage reported. All personnel are ready to release stocks. All systems go," he told the Philippine News Agency.

The NFA rice will be released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of C...