Amid dwindling supply of National Food Authority (NFA) rice in Metro Manila, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday called for the resignation of NFA Administrator Jason L.Y. Aquino.
House Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez of the Third District of Quezon, in a news conference, said the recent announcement that the NFA rice stock has been depleted to a day’s requirement would lead to higher prices.
“While the Malacañang assured that our country has enough supply, we are concerned that rice traders will take advantage of this situation, to the detriment of the Filipino consumers,” Suarez said.
He also criticized Aquino for failing to comply with the 15-day buffer stock policy.
“Such incompetence should no longer be tolerated,” Suarez said.
Earlier, President Duterte approved the NFA’s 500,000 metric ton (MT) rice importation to revitalize its nearly depleted stockpile.
The BusinessMirror also reported that the initial 250,000 MT will be imported within the month via government-to-government scheme to immediately beef up the NFA’s buffer stock, which has sunk to four-decade low of 200,000 bags.
Meanwhile, the remaining 250,000 MT would be purchased by the NFA via government-to-procurement scheme, in preparation for the lean months.
Last Friday, reports said Duterte wanted the 18-member body abolished, amid disagreements over the rice-importation policy between the NFA Council and the NFA.
However, Malacañang later clarified that the President merely wants to reconstitute the council. The NFAC is the highest policy-making body of the NFA.
Also, Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez backed the reported intention of Duterte to abolish the NFA Council to address the recurring problem on the country’s rice supply, particularly on the cheaper rice sold by the NFA.
On the other hand, Alvarez said he is also open to the option of reconstituting the NFA council.
According to Alvarez, a congressional investigation may be in order to determine the necessary amendments to the law that created the body.
Alvarez said it is ironic that while many agriculturists from our neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Thailand studied at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, we are now importing our rice supply from these countries.
He said there are still vast tracts of agricultural lands in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that can be utilized to produce rice if provided with irrigation and other necessary support from the government.
Alvarez said the Department of Agriculture, the National Irrigation Administration and the NFA administration should get their act together to look deeper into the problem of the country’s rice supply and find a suitable solution.