NFA flagged for improper storage of rice in warehouses

The Commission on Audit has flagged the National Food Authority in its 2017 report, this time over the poor maintenance of its warehouses in the provinces that failed to adhere to standard operating procedures.

According to a report by GMA News’ Maki Pulido on 24 Oras, the COA called out the NFA warehouses in Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, and Zamboanga City for their failure to ensure the proper storage of NFA rice.

One warehouse in Malolos, Bulacan had have leaks on its ceiling, thus exposing the wastage of the rice inside to pests and rain.

NFA-Bulacan Provincial Manager Elvira Cruz Obana blamed the lack of funds for the state of the province’s warehouses and its facilities.

“Kailangan namin ng pondo for repair ng mga warehouses in preparation for the harvest season and the post harvest facilities namin, for example yung rice mill namin masyadong matanda na dapat yun siguro i-upgrade,” Obana said.

Several bags of rice in the warehouse in Casiguran, Aurora, meanwhile, had holes and animal waste. Small flag-shaped pieces of paper were also hanged to fend off birds.

NFA-Aurora manager Julieta Orias said their office had already requested for funds to rehabilitate their warehouse but the allotment has yet to arrive.

“It’s not really na we are not maintaining cleanliness. We have requested for funding for repainting the building, including here in Baler and it was approved. But so far there no funds until now,” she said.

NFA spokesperson Director Rex Estoperez vowed the improvement of the agency’s facilities, but said not all will be rehabilitated once funding arrives.

“We are prepared to repair all those na kailangan namin. Yung sinasabi ng COA, as if lahat naman either we have to repair. We don’t have the funds for that na lahat ire-repair, yung hindi mo naman lahat magagamit,” Estoperez said.

The warehouse in Isabela also had cracks on the walls and floor, while birds can still enter the warehouse in Zamboanga City despite the finished repairs.

The COA had earlier called out the use of the NFA’s P5.1-billion subsidy for its Food Security Program to pay off loans instead of purchasing palay from farmers, rice distribution and importation, grains business licensing and registration, and buffer stocking.

The COA said this contributed to higher rice prices, unavailability of NFA rice in the market, and lower inventory in various NFA warehouses.

This findings from COA has been the subject of a graft and malversation complaint against NFA Administrator Jason Aquino at the Office of the Ombudsman.

The NFA had already denied that the funds were diverted.

Aside from this, the COA questioned why the NFA allowed retailers in Cavite, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte to withdraw bags of rice way above their weekly allocations which resulted in uneven rice distribution.

The NFA is also embroiled over the infestation of rice weevils in around 100,000 sacks of imported rice stored in Subic, Zambales. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/NB, GMA News