Officials inspect QC market; militants hit inspection ‘for show’

MANILA, Philippines - Amid criticisms by militant farmers for staging the announced inspection for show, ranking government officials conducted early Thursday an inspection of a major market in Quezon City. Radio dzBB's Bernie Morales reported that Vice President Noli de Castro Jr led the officials in inspecting prices of rice and other foodstuff at the Commonwealth Market. Accompanying De Castro were Trade Sec. Peter Favila and officials from the Agriculture department. Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap, who was expected to join the inspection, was a no-show. De Castro checked the prices of rice, while Favila inspected price tags and scales used by the vendors. However, the report said advance information about the inspection appeared to give the vendors enough time to "prepare" for the officials' arrival. The report said prices of goods went down from their usual levels and there seemed to have an influx of rice from the National Food Authority ahead of the announced inspection. The market was clean, and all weighing scales were inspected to be accurate. Earlier, militant farmers scored the rice inspections conducted by government officials in markets, which they said is only for media consumption. The Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) questioned the soundness of the inspections, which it said will only give vendors time to "prepare." KMP spokesman Carl Ala made the statement hours before De Castro and Yap were to inspect the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City. He noted that De Castro and Yap paved the way for the vendors to prepare for the high-profile inspection, so they can look good before the cameras. - GMANews.TV