Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Arroyo orders probe on rice hoarding in Mindanao
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday ordered the immediate investigation into the alleged hoarding of rice in Mindanao that led to the high prices of rice in the affected provinces, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
Bunye, who is also the Presidential spokesman, said the agriculture and trade departments are now looking into the situation and would come up with a report, including a press conference, on Tuesday.
Arroyo had initially tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to assist the National Food Authority (NFA) in the investigations and the filing of appropriate charges against any rice hoarders.
"Anyone caught or suspected of hoarding will be dealt with severely. No one will be spared. The administration is committed to protect the interest of the consuming public," said deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelie Fajardo.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral reported that commercial rice retailers in certain parts of Mindanao are now selling rice at P51 per kilo, which is similar to the P30 per kilo of commercial rice that is being sold in Metro Manila.
Davao City residents feared that commercial rice would end up at P60 per kilo soon.
The President also urged local governments in the Visayas particularly Panay Island to refrain from imposing additional charges on cargo trucks passing through their provinces that are delivering rice to different parts of the country.
Arroyo, at the inauguration of the Ibajay Bridge in Kalibo, Aklan, said Aklan is one of the 44 rice-producing areas in the countries. She wants to ensure that the supply would reach the big markets in Luzon.
"Please do not put additional fee on the cargo truck that goes through. We want the rice of Aklan to go through without additional cost as much as possible to the big markets of Luzon during this time of high global rice crisis," she said.
She issued similar instructions last month in Mindoro Occidental when she directed local governments to refrain from imposing additional fees on delivery trucks carrying rice, as it ads additional cost on the grain supply.
Meanwhile, a bishop said traders hoarding rice in Mindanao would not receive any communion.
"Something is wrong. The reason is greed of the businessmen. Some people are hoarding and the others are taking advantage of the crisis to get more money," said Marbel, South Cotabato Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez.
Aside from rice hoarding, Gutierrez said he also received information that some retailers have been repacking rice supplies and then selling them at higher prices in the markets.
Gutierrez, former chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa), said he will meet with the businessmen to find out the truth.
He admitted that he is saddened by the irony in the region known to have a vast source of food supply. (JMR/MSN/Sunnex)
