Group fears drop in palay prices amid NFA controversy

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) expressed worry on Thursday over the government’s capacity to buy rice stocks from farmers following the suspension of over 100 National Food Authority (NFA) officials and employees.

In Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report, PCAFI said several NFA warehouses are currently closed.

“Ang worry namin, talagang pag binarat kasi talagang bababa ng below P20 'yan, no? Walang tatakbuhan ang farmers. Kapag kasi may NFA di makaporma 'yung trader, may pupuntahan eh. May pupuntahang iba, 'yung gobyerno. Mamimili siya eh. Kahit na konti lang ang kaya niyang bilhin, at least namimili pa rin siya,” PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said.

(We worry because traders can push to buy below P20 per kilo, but if the NFA will buy the stocks, the traders cannot do that.)

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier ordered a 90-day preventive suspension against 139 NFA officials and employees, including administrator Roderico Bioco and assistant administrator for operations John Robert Hermano, over the alleged sale of rice at a loss to favored traders.

The suspension took effect on March 4.

Earlier, more than 130 NFA officials and employees who were facing complaints appealed to the Ombudsman to lift the suspension order.

“They are not exercising discretion in releasing these stocks. Upon order from the higher management, they only release these stocks,”  Rafael Rayco, the employees’ legal counsel, said.

“Since they are suspended without pay, they are very uncertain about their future. They do not have any source of livelihood as of the moment,” Layco added.

The NFA earlier defended the sale of the rice stocks, saying it only fulfilled its mandate of disposing of its rice in good and consumable condition and that it has responsibly released its supply by stretching to maximum shelf-life and minimizing the sale of residual volume to other accounts. — Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News