Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Roxas proposes food transparency
MANILA -- Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II filed Senate Bill (SB) 2161 seeking transparency in all government transactions involving food and basic commodities, especially rice and corn.
He said part of the people's basic right of access to adequate and affordable food is giving full access to information, including supply, production and imports, prices, and other factors and risks.
"It is the government's responsibility to ensure that there is food for all. In relation to this, it must let the people know at all times about the state of food in the country," said Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee.
"The best deterrence to collusion, profiteering and other abuses by government or private persons is transparency," he added.
"This information is important to help families in budgeting their daily needs, and to help the government against abuses in the market," he stressed.
Roxas said this bill, once enacted into law, will help institute good governance in all government actions and transactions in relation to food and basic commodities, and would also help the government in targeting food distribution and soliciting private sector help in improving food security.
"Food is in the interest of every Filipino, and any information about it should not be subject to executive privilege," he added.
SB 2161 or the proposed "Affordable Food Transparency Act" mandates the publication by the Department of Agriculture (DA) of all rice, corn and sugar import permits, including names and addresses of importers and suppliers; countries of origin; dates of contract and arrival of imports and other specifications; and contract price and modes of purchase.
It also requires the dissemination of any and all significant information that affects food supply and prices, through print and electronic publication. It also mandates the disclosure of any information about the existence of a factor or risk to food security.
It also requires pertinent government agencies, particularly the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and their sub-units, to comply with written requests for any information, records or documents within two working days, under pain of penalty.
The bill also allows every denial of any request, in whole or in part, due to reasons of privacy, national security, diplomatic relations, trade secrets and others, to be appealed before the Office of the Ombudsman. (Sunnex) |
