Makabayan bloc seeks House probe into Zamboanga rice crisis

Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives have filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the rice crisis affecting Zamboanga City.

The city has been placed under a state of calamity this month due to a rice shortage that raised prices to as much as P70 per kilo.

House Resolution No. 2120, which urges the House Committee on Agriculture look into the "severe rice crisis now devastating the poor," was filed Wednesday by Anak Pawis Representative Ariel Casilao; Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate; ACT Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro; Gabriela Women's party-list Reps. Emmi De Jesus and Arlene Brosas; and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Jane Elago.

The progressive bloc's move came amid reports of the National Food Authority's near-zero palay procurement in 2017 and the alleged illegal diversion of its P5.1 billion budget for food security program to pay for its maturing loans.

The alleged misuse of P5.1 billion was flagged by the Commission on Audit in its annual audit report.

The Makabayan bloc also said they called for the probe in light of President Rodrigo Duterte's supposed "policy and decision to prioritize rice importation at the expense of Filipino farmers."

The left-leaning legislators argued: "The NFA, which is under President Rodrigo Duterte's control, practically stopped buying palay at an advantageous price to Filipino farmers in 2017 which resulted in its near-zero palay procurement."

Citing the plight of local farmers caused by the rice smuggling, they  wrote, "Ultimately, the national stock has become a private stock, controlled by cartel of big landlords and traders manipulating supply and prices."

Aside from HB 2120, the Makabayan bloc filed another resolution on the same day, seeking an investigation into the importation of 330,000 sacks of rice found infested with rice weevils or "bukbok." — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News