NFA tightens control on delivery of cheap rice

The National Food Authority has imposed stricter measures in monitoring the delivery and selling of its affordable grains after authorities found evidence of NFA rice being re-packaged to be sold as more expensive commercial rice.

 

NFA Administrator Arthur Juan indicated that the even NFA personnel would be subjected to investigation, saying the agency was not discounting the possibility that NFA employees may also be behind the rice profiteering schemes.

 

“Hindi lang sa labas ng NFA, also within NFA ay icoconduct natin ng investigaiton,” Juan said.

 

On Monday a warehouse in Malolos, Bulacan was discovered to have been mixing rice with broken rice which was meant for animal consumption.

 

The NFA is now working with various government agencies to combat the increasing number of cases involving the manipulation of the rice supply, a report from GMA's “24-Oras” program said Tuesday.

 

According to Presidential Advisor on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Kiko Pangilinan, the NFA would be working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

 

A memorandum of agreement was recently signed by the said parties in which the NBI and CIDG were tasked to be the raiding and inspection arm of the NFA.

 

“Mas malawak ngayon ang ating saklaw. Mas maraming ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang ating minomobilisa para mas maging epektibo ang ating pagbantay dito sa mga diversion, hoarding, price manipulation,” Pangilinan said. —Andrei Mendoza/NB, GMA News