NBI's help needed in monitoring irregularities in sale of government rice

CEBU, Philippines - Concerned over the reported increase in the grain trading violations, Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong is asking the National Food Authority to tap the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies in order to augment its monitoring capability against the unscrupulous traders.

The NFA has been continuously monitoring the flow of government rice in the accredited rice outlets in the markets, including the Tindahan Natin outlets, following report on the increase in grains trading violations.

In a proposed resolution, Maambong said there is a need for NBI and other law enforcement agencies to help the NFA in monitoring of rice outlets of those who are violating trading rules and regulations.

According to NFA, the violations are expected to become rampant in the months of July to September because the rice stocks in these months are low and grains are drying.

“These lean months open for unscrupulous grain traders window of opportunities to take advantage against the public through such modus operandi as NFA stocks diversion, artificial shortage of supply, hoarding of NFA rice, mixing or diluting commercial rice with government rice,” Maambong said.

The NFA would implement the “one-strike” policy against any TN outlet. This means that TN outlets caught violating trading rules and regulations would be blacklisted and face automatic cancellation of their accreditation.

At present, there are 14,581 TN outlets in operation nationwide located mostly in the highly depressed areas. The TN outlets comprise the majority of existing 23,800 active market outlets of the agency.

The NFA Council, the policy making body of the agency, meanwhile, wants all TN outlets to distribute 100 percent iron fortified rice (IFR) which is part of the President Gloria Arroyo’s administration’s plan to eradicate malnutrition in the country.

TN outlets sell IFR at P18.25 per kg exclusively for families with family access cards issued by the DSWD in the NCR and those listed in the TN rice allocation ledger in the provinces.

The NFA is increasing its rice distribution target for the lean months to stabilize the supply and price of rice. — Garry B. Lao/WAB (THE FREEMAN)