NFA: 8 Cebu rice traders are legitimate importers

CEBU, Philippines - The National Food Authority in Central Visayas denied reports that eight rice traders from Cebu were involved in the so-called “legalized rice smuggling” during the previous administration.

NFA-7 information officer Ma. Lucia Rosales said the eight rice traders mentioned in the audit team hired by the NFA central office in Manila as among the 18 rice traders involved in smuggling are legitimate rice importers.

Rosales however said they have yet to receive a copy of the audit report. The audit report mentioned eight traders from Cebu that were allegedly allowed to import a total of 200,000 metric tons of rice under the Private Sector Importation Program of the NFA during the administration of then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Rosales said the eight rice traders are not smugglers but legitimate rice traders in Cebu, who participated in the bidding.

Rosales said the volume being imported by the said rice traders were approved by the NFA Council which is composed of the Office of the President, the Department of Finance, the Central Bank, the Department of Agriculture, the National Economic Development Authority and other economic planning agencies of the government.

Rosales emphasized that the eight rice traders are licensed with them and are not fictitious contrary to the audit report. –(FREEMAN)