By Junex Doronio
MANILA — After receiving reports that the National Food Authority (NFA) sold “thousands of tons of rice at a price disadvantageous to the government,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. has directed an investigation on the complaints.
The Agriculture chief immediately created a panel of investigators to look into allegations.
“We do not brush aside reports of impropriety against officials of the Department of Agriculture, regardless of the source. We also welcome any government agency who may wish to conduct their own probe to ferret out the truth,” Tiu Laurel said.
He added that certain NFA executives allegedly “authorized the sale of milled rice stored in the agency’s warehouse for P25 a kilo without bidding and after purchasing the grains in palay form at P23 per kilo.”
However, the names of the NFA executives have not been revealed.
“We are custodians of government funds—monies to be spent for the benefit of Filipinos, especially farmers and fisherfolk. Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be squandered to line anybody’s pockets,” Tiu Laurel stressed.
The Agriculture chief then issued a stern warning.
“Those who profit at the expense of farmers and fisherfolk as well as Filipino consumers should be meted the harshest penalty under the law,” the DA Secretary said.
For his part, NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco said the sale was meant to dispose of aging stock.
“NFA Council allows the NFA management to dispose aging stocks up to 10% lower than the mandated price (P22.50/kg floor price up to the maximum mandated ceiling P25.00/kg) and the damaged stocks at least P6.50/kg,” Bioco said in a statement.
(el Amigo/MNM)
