AN OFFICIAL of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Misamis Oriental said no rice retailers who were monitored so far violating the recently-implemented Suggested Retail Price (SRP) on rice.
Katherine Marohombsar, NFA-MisOr Enforcement and Investigation officer said they however monitored 4 rice retailers in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro selling NFA rice without license and permit from the NFA.
Marohombsar said she sent summons to the retailers for a hearing at the NFA "to hear their side".
Marohombsar reminded rice retailers that before they can legally grains in the market, they are required to secure first a license from the NFA and not only a business permit from the City Hall,
She warned that retailers found selling without licenses could face penalties ranging from P1,000 to P15,000 depending on the extent of the offense. If they refuse to cooperate with the investigation, she said the NFA has the right to close their stores.
"We are monitoring every day the markets to protect the interest of our consumers," she added.
According to NFA, all businessmen engaged in the following activities are required to have a license, which includes: retailing, wholesaling, milling, warehousing, corn shelling, processing/manufacturing, threshing, exporting, importing, indenting, packaging, and mechanical drying.
The NFA officials in the region yesterday appeared before the City Council to explain to the city councilors the implementation of the SRP which sets a fixed price for commercial rice in the market.