Agri chief orders probe into unauthorized NFA rice sale

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered for a conduct of an investigation into alleged unauthorized sale of National Food Authority’s (NFA) rice stock at a price disadvantageous to the government.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tiu Laurel created a panel of investigators to look into allegations that certain NFA officials allegedly authorized the sale of milled rice stored in the agency’s warehouse for P25 per kilo without bidding and after purchasing the grains in palay form at P23 per kilo.

"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,” said Tiu Laurel.

“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," added the Agriculture chief.

The Rice Tariffication Law, which allowed liberalized importation of rice, removed the NFA’s role to regulate the rice sector as well as it being the only agency allowed to import rice shipments into the country.

The NFA’s mandate now solely focuses on ensuring sufficient supply of buffer stocks of rice in the Philippines —30 days worth of the country's total consumption during the lean season, and 15 days otherwise.

Amid reports of unauthorized NFA rice selling, Tiu Laurel said that “those who profit at the expense of farmers and fisherfolk as well as Filipino consumers should be meted the harshest penalty under the law.”—AOL, GMA Integrated News