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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate eyes investigation into NFA's sale of cheap rice

Senate eyes investigation into NFA's sale of cheap rice

Published Mar 1, 2024 09:10 am

Sen. Cynthia Villar said on Friday, March 1 that the Senate will investigate allegations that the National Food Authority (NFA) sold thousands of tons of rice to certain traders at a price disadvantageous to the government.

"Mag-iinvestigate kami dyan, kasi I have personal experience with regards to that kaya hindi ako happy dyan (We will investigate that, because I have personal experience regarding that that's why I'm not happy with it)," she said in an interview.

Asked if there's a "mafia" within the NFA, she said that it's nothing new.

"Matagal na yon, its not a new findings, di ba kaya ko pinasa ang Rice Tarrification Law, kasi sila ang nagiimport ng rice exclusively and then nakikipag-conbive sila sa cartel kaya tinanggal namin ung power to import sa kanila, they have only the power to buy from the local farmers at niliberalize yung importation of rice (That's old news, it's not a new findings, that's why I passed the Rice Tarrification Law it's because they import rice exclusively and they will connive with the cartel that's why we removed the power to import from them, they only have the power to buy from the local farmers and we liberalized the importation of rice)," she said.

She said that the rice that NFA is reportedly selling to traders and dealers, should instead be sold to the people who need it.

"You should sell to the people na nangangailangan, kasi subsidized ng governmentt yan, mura, hindi yan ibinibigay sa trader, binibigay yan sa mga tao. Para makamura ung mga tao, yung mahihirap, makabili sila ng rice na mura (You should sell to the people in need because it's subsidized by the government, it's cheap, it's not given to traders, it's for the people. So that the poor can afford rice at a low price)," she added.

"Mali yun (That's wrong), that's against the law," she added.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

He has also created a panel of investigators to look into allegations that certain NFA officials allegedly authorized the sale of milled rice stored in the agency’s warehouse for P25 a kilo without bidding and after purchasing the grains in palay form at P23 per kilo.

Related Tags

NFA rice National Food Authority (NFA) Senator Cynthia Villar DA Secretary Francisco Laurel Department of Agriculture
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