MANILA -- Administrator Lito Banayo of the National Food Authority (NFA) was advised to consider re-milling spoiled rice grains from excess stocks so that it could still be consumed.
Representative Emil Ong (second district, Northern Samar), who was NFA administrator during the administration of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's mother, the late former President Cory, said that spoiled rice grains can be re-milled so that the outer covering can be used as feeds while the inner white rice grain can still be consumed.
“Yung sa loob pwede pa kainin ng mga tao. Never burn rice, Mr. Administrator Lito Banayo,” added Ong.
Ong admitted that during his time, there was also an issue of over importation of rice explaining that the demand for rice usually increases during the election period.
The lawmaker, a Lakas-Kampi partymate of former President and current Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said it is the responsibility of the President to ensure that there will be enough rice when he or she steps down. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)