Villar calls for Senate probe on NFA rice shortage

Senator Cynthia Villar on Wednesday called for an investigation into the shortage of National Food Authority (NFA) rice supply.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food, filed Senate Resolution 608 seeking an inquiry on the status of NFA rice supply, as well as the agency’s role in ensuring the stability of the price of rice.

“The present NFA’s mandate to ensure food sufficiency should be looked into for the purpose of rationalizing its functions in the advent of the need to impose tariff on rice importation,” Villar said. 

“It should be responsible to respond to natural and artificial shortages of rice or buffer stocking,” she added.

Over the weekend, the NFA said it has decided to temporarily discontinue issuing rice to accredited retailers due to low supply.

According to spokesperson Rebecca Olarte, because of the low NFA buffer stock, the agency has decided to prioritize distributing rice to calamity victims, as well as stockpiling for islands at greater risk of being isolated in the event of a calamity.

Citing a newspaper report, Villar pointed out that the scenario of low buffer stock also happened in March 2017 and in July 2017.

“There is a need to look into the supply of NFA rice for the consuming public and NFA in fulfilling its administrative capabilities to respond to the need of the people,” Villar said.

In a phone interview, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Malacañang respects the mandate of the Senate to conduct an investigation.

“Nirerespeto po natin 'yan dahil ang Presidente ay nirerespeto ang Senado bilang isang co-equal branch of government,” Roque said.

Roque earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte is using diplomatic means to address the reported shortage of NFA rice. — with Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News