Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Rice trading in Negros Oriental monitored By Victor L. Camion
THE National Food Authority (NFA) is strictly monitoring rice trading in Negros Oriental against any possible mixing of NFA with commercial rice.
NFA provincial marketing development officer Rolando Lazalita told Sun.Star that they received reports of some commercial rice traders mixing NFA with commercial rice and then sold it commercially.
The report also showed that some accredited NFA warehouse sold their stocks to commercial rice retailers.
Lazalita said both NFA and commercial rice traders are liable for the violation of anti-economic sabotage law.
Aside from cancellation of licenses, if proven guilty, liable parties are sentenced to a life term in jail, according to Lazalita.
The move, he said, is based on an order from NFA central office.
One of the mandate is for NFA personnel to escort the transport of NFA rice to accredited retailers namely: ni Gloria sa Palengke, Tindahan Natin, Bigasan and Handog sa Parokya.
Lazalita admitted the allegations that some rice transports of NFA warehouse to accredited outlets ended up in another hands.
Palengke Watch monitoring teams are to be dispatch on the concerned areas to oversee and implement proper procedures of rice transports.
NFA rice costs only P18.25 per kilo while commercial or local rice is now sold as high as P40, according to a latest data.
Consumers can tell the difference between NFA and commercial rice from its looks and taste, Lazalita said, adding that consumers should be careful with the rice they buy.
"If they suspect that they had bought NFA rice sold off as commercial rice, they should bring a sample to the NFA office," he said.
He assured that complaints will be handled with "utmost confidentiality".
Consumers, he said, can also call tel. nos. 225-2823, 422-1731 and 225-6522 for their complaints.
Mixing is legal
Lazalita, however, assured that mixing of NFA with commercial rice is legal as long as NFA rice is acquired through a public bidding.
He admitted, in accordance of the law, NFA will sell stocks of rice through a public auction.
He explained 70 percent of the total stocks will be reserved in case there will be a shortage.
The winning bidder, he said, is allowed to mix NFA with commercial and sold it commercially.
Suspended
However, Lazalita clarified the public auction of NFA rice is temporarily suspended.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the stop of the auction while the country is experiencing shortage of commercial rice.
NFA, through its agencies, will only act as a support program in case a shortage is experienced.
Lazalita further explained that farmer's cooperative is buying in bulk for its members.
He, however, clarified that it is only good for seasonal.
Farmers coop, he said, does not need to buy NFA rice during harvest season.
