Saturday, April 19, 2008 S. Cotabato seeks more NFA rice allotment
KORONADAL CITY -- The Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) in South Cotabato has approved a resolution urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to increase National Food Authority (NFA) rice allocation in the province.
Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes, LPCC chair, convened on Thursday the council and warned traders of basic commodities, especially rice, to refrain from hoarding supplies or face court charges.
"Let us also continue to intensify our price monitoring activities," she told government agency members of the council that includes the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the NFA.
Pangalian B. Busaran, NFA provincial manager, earlier said they have discovered 23 rice retailers violating the grains agency's trading rules, adding that appropriate sanctions have been meted against them.
The council's resolution asked the Agriculture department to increase NFA rice allocation per accredited retailers in the province to 25 sacks a week, from the present five bags.
Fuentes vowed to personally hand the resolution of the council to Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap.
There are at least 183 accredited rice retailers, 125 "Tindahan Natin" outlets and three Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke stores serviced by the provincial grains office, Busaran said.
Amid the rice crisis gripping the nation, Fuentes said the provincial price monitoring council would now be meeting twice a month to closely assess the situation.
The provincial DTI has also set up a telephone hotline where consumers can file complaints against erring commodity traders. (BSS)
