THE NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) said on Wednesday that it is open to the probe by the Department of Agriculture (DA), amid speculations of unauthorized rice selling.
In a statement, NFA Administrator Roderico R. Bioco said that investigation would “press the need to expedite the transformation program of the NFA especially on its modernization program.”
On Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Francis P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. had ordered the investigation into the alleged selling of thousands of tons of rice to traders at lower prices.
Mr. Tiu Laurel said that he had created a panel to investigate allegations that certain NFA officials allegedly “authorized the sale of milled rice stored in the agency’s warehouse for P25 a kilo without bidding and after purchasing the grains in palay at P23 per kilo.”
Separately, DA Assistant Secretary and Spokesman Arnel V. de Mesa said that the group has already started reviewing documents and conducting interviews with the NFA.
“While the secretary had not yet set a deadline…investigators are expected to submit their report as soon as they are done with their analysis,” Mr. De Mesa told reporters.
Mr. Bioco said that under NFA mandate, old stocks are set to be disposed up to 10% lower than the mandated price of P22.5 per kilograms to P25 per kilo and damage stocks for at least P6.5 per kilo.
“NFA management has recommended to the NFA Council to increase the mandated maximum selling price of NFA rice,” he added. — Adrian H. Halili
