Grecon exec: No adulterated rice in Cebu

The leader of an organization of market vendors in Cebu clarified the issue on the alleged proliferation of adulterated rice in Cebu.

Erwin Gok-ong, chairman of the Cebu Market Vendors Development Cooperative, said a news report that came out in a newspaper (not The FREEMAN) misquoted him and he is worried that it might create a wrong notion to the public.

"What I was trying to say was that there was rampant smuggling and adulteration of rice. But that was many years ago. I wanted to emphasize that the situation is no longer the same now because the NFA [National Food Authority] is strictly monitoring their rice," he stressed.

Gok-ong, who is also the incumbent vice chairman of the Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines Cebu chapter, said that they are constantly monitoring their members to make sure that what they are selling are pure NFA rice.

According to him, there are more than 2,000 rice retailers in Cebu and more than half of it are GRECON members and accredited retailers of the NFA rice.

"Cheap rice sold here is not the result of smuggling, but of the proliferation of the NFA rice, which is sold at P18 per kilo," Gok-ong said.

Reports on alleged proliferation of adulterated rice have alarmed government sectors particularly the NFA. This also prompted the Cebu City Market Authority to investigate.

NFA has deployed three teams to eight major markets in Cebu to monitor the sale and distribution of NFA rice. These include markets in Carbon, T. Padilla, Tabo-an, Talisay City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Naga and Minglanilla.

It is also making sure that there would be enough rice during "lean months" and prevent those who would take advantage because of the scarcity of rice. Lean months begin in June until August.

As an accredited NFA rice retailer, Gok-ong said that they also help in monitoring the markets and other retailers who may be involved in rice mixing and even overpricing.

He said that NFA-licensed retailers have signages that they are accredited NFA rice retailers and that their rice bears price tags that indicate these are NFA rice. - Wenna A. Berondo