Jason Aquino goes on leave while Duterte looks for replacement NFA chief

National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Jason Aquino has gone on leave after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he was looking to replace Aquino amid the shortage of cheap state-subsidized NFA rice.

Acccording to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras", the NFA said in a statement that the NFA's operations would not be hampered by Aquino's leave of absence and pending the appointment of Aquino's replacement.

The same NFA statement also assured the public that Aquino has already tasked the NFA Regional Directors to ensure that there will be enough NFA rice sold in the market before he went on leave.

Likewise, Aquino has also tasked NFA offices located in areas expected to be hit by typhoon Ompong to ensure that there will be enough rice stock and that rice supply will be immediately given to typhoon victims.

The President said on Tuesday that he is looking for a new NFA administrator since Aquino has asked to be relieved from his post because Aquino is tired and can't cope with the workload.

The President's statement, however, did not change the prevailing shortage of NFA rice in the market resulting in long queues starting as early as 4:30 am.

“Mahihirap na nga kami, naghihirap pa rin sa kakapila ng kakainin. Hirap na kami sa ulam, hirap pa kami sa bigas. Ano na mangyayari sa amin?” Florencia Mabutol, who lined up for two hours to be able to buy five kilos of NFA rice in Commonwealth market, said.

The waiting time resulted in Mabutol coming in to work late.

Even senior citizen Leonardo Lagmay had no choice but to line up for an hour to buy NFA rice.

“'Yun ang nararanasan naming mahihirap. Pumila. Kung 'di ka pipila, bibili ka ng mahal. Hindi naman kaya ng bulsa,” Lagmay, who also bought rice in Commonwealth market, added.

NFA rice retailer Shara Jane Manalastas confirmed the accounts of the consumers that the queues never ease, and that is also putting additional burden on sellers.

“Wala po kaming tigil dyan. Kumakain kami ng almusal [ng] 11am na, minsan 12 [noon]. Kasi pag tinigilan mo 'yan magagalit po sila [na mga mamimili],” Manalastas pointed out.

Cathy Estabillo, who serves as spokesperson of Bantay Bigas, called on the government to impose price ceiling for rice to address the unabated increase in rice prices because the shortage is only on the cheap rice, not on commercial rice.

"Dapat maano... [magkaron ng] ngipin ng gobyerno. [Dapat] malakas ngipin n'ya na magkaroon ng price ceiling sa pagbebenta ng rice traders."

Danilo Garcia, who serves as President of the Alliance of Filipino rice retailers, agreed with Bantay Bigas' suggestion.

"Tignan ng gobyerno magkano ang acquisition cost, magkano [ang] landed cost, [magkano] ang allowable margin ng mga traders para ibenta. Kasi kapag hindi mo nilagyan ng price ceiling ang allowable margin ng mga trader, ang bagsak niyan ay sa consumer,” Garcia added. —Llanesca Panti/NB, GMA News