NFA chief summons rice warehouse owner

National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Arthur Yap has summoned the owner of the rice stocks found in a warehouse in Valenzuela that was raided yesterday.

Yap said the owner, a certain Eleanor Rodriguez, was invited to explain the circumstances relating to the alleged rebagging of 40,000 bags of government rice inside a warehouse in Punturin, Valenzuela.

"We have started a probe of the President’s findings during her surprise inspection of the warehouse last Tuesday," Yap explained, "If indeed there are irregularities involved here, liable parties will have to be dealth with accordingly," he stressed.

Offenses such as rebagging or re-sacking of government rice and hoarding or cornering of grains, among others, are punishable by law, said Yap.

Yap also warned traders from taking advantage of the lean period when there is a very low harvest even as he assured the public of sufficient rice supply. The NFA alone has 660,900 MT of rice and is expecting another 300,000 MT to arrive this month. These quantities will bring NFA’s holding to about 36 days it is required for the lean months. Another 250,000 MT to 300,000 MT or equivalent to 12 days is expected to be brought in by farmers and other sectors.

The NFA is presently implementing various distribution and monitoring programs to ensure the continuous availability of the staple at affordable prices in markets nationwide. In the event of irregular rice supplies the NFA is ready to intervene up to 50 percent of the demand to stabilize rice supply and prices in the affected areas.

Yap said the agency welcomes reports of abnormal or irregular movements in rice supply and prices through the agency’s "Text NFA" program. The public may text NFA by typing the keywords SUG for suggestions, QRY for irregularities or requests for assistance, or CMP for complaints and grievances. Text messages may be sent via this format: Keyword (space) name (space) address (space) message, then send to 0917-6210927.