Palace to distribute excess rice

INSTEAD of leaving it to rot in warehouses, the Palace would likely distribute the excessive imported rice to poor families.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the National Food Authority (NFA) is considering the proposal, saying: "Certainly, that is a good suggestion."

Updates on President Benigno Aquino III's presidency

Earlier, farmer's group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas urged President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to distribute the rice to more than four million impoverished Filipinos.

"Right now, NFA administrator Lito Banayo is still looking at the rice stocks. Titingnan niya yung bulok, medyo bulok and hindi pa bulok at yung mga mapapakinabangan pa," he said.

He added that they also tasked Social Welfare and Development secretary Dinky Soliman to help Banayo in deciding on the proposal of rice distribution.

Aquino, in his State of the Nation Address last Monday, revealed that rice was left to rot in warehouses due to over importation.

The NFA created a systems and management audit team to conduct probe to the alleged misconduct.

It will also tap the help of the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation to determine possible accountability of parties involved. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)