NFA rice has disappeared in many outlets, like in this stall in Kamuning Market which sells commercial rice. (JAMSTA. ROSA)
Senator Grace Poe believes that a legislative inquiry is in order to find out if there are syndicates trying to manipulate the country鈥檚 rice supply data.
In a chance interview, Poe noted the significance of getting to the bottom of the disagreement between the National Food Authority (NFA) and Department of Agriculture (DA) on whether or not there was a need to import rice.
鈥淧alagi na lang nangyayari ito (rice shortage). Bakit umaabot sa ganito? Meron bang mga sindikato sa loob na nagpipigil ng tamang datos na ilabas? Kung meron ba talaga, sapat o hindi sapat?鈥� Poe told reporters on Saturday.
Poe was asked for her comment on the conflicting statement of the NFA and DA on the importation of rice. NFA officials were pushing for rice importation while DA officials said there was no need to import rice because the country recorded a听buffer harvest of 19.4 million metric tons in 2017.
搁贰础顿:听NFA rice import plan questioned
But President Rodrigo Duterte has already allowed the NFA to import an additional 250,000 metric tons of rice, a move that did not sit well with various farmers鈥� groups.
搁贰础顿:听
Poe said that with the NFA鈥檚 rice import plan in place, an investigation should also be conducted to determine whether or not there was an attempt to manipulate prices.
鈥淗uwag tayo mag-import kung meron naman tayong sapat. Kaya lang, sinasabi na hindi. Mahirap naman magkaubusan (ng bigas),鈥� Poe said.
鈥淢ag-import tayo ngayon, pero imbestigahan natin. Dapat lang na magkaroon ng hearing (sa Senado).鈥�
鈥淜riminal ang pigilin ang malayang pagbebenta o kaya sa tamang halaga ang bigas dahil 鈥榶an ang basic need. Hindi ko alam kung minamaniobra ito ng iilan,鈥� the senator also stressed.听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 /kga
听