Farmers’ group to charge NFA, DA officials over India ‘mission'

MANILA, Philippines — Charges will be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Food Authority (NFA) who are part of a “mission” in India to exempt the Philippines from the latter’s rice export ban, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) chairman Rosendo So said yesterday.

In an interview with The STAR, So said that during the inquiry of the House committee on agriculture and food chaired by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, NFA administrator Robert Bioco failed to attend the hearing on the rice supply as he is on an official mission in India.

“It prohibited the NFA from favoring certain importers in the private sector. The question is why are the NFA (officials) in India when they are not allowed to import,” So said, referring to the provisions of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) or Republic Act 11203 prohibiting NFA from importing.

Aside from Bioco, the DA has confirmed that Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa is also part of the delegation.

“We will file cases against them before the Office of the Ombudsman just like what we did in 2018 when they used the budget for the procurement of palay in the importation of rice,” So noted.

SINAG charged former NFA administrator Jason Aquino and accounting services department manager Gerry Ambrocio for technical malversation and graft before the ombudsman over the questionable use of P5.1 billion.

“The NFA is favoring certain importers. These were the same individuals who were included in the meeting in Malacañang,” So said, adding that at least five importers attended the stakeholders meeting with President Marcos recently.

So added that the DA and the NFA should instead consult with the millers and farmers to determine if there is shortage in the supply of the staple food.

“During the hearing, (Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations) Usec (Mercedita) Sombilla assured us that there is no shortage in the supply of rice. (Agriculture Undersecretary) Usec.  (Leocadio) Sebastian also mentioned that the local palay production is high. What are they doing in India?” he asked.

“Why did they pick certain importers whose identities are even questionable? Are these five favored importers acting as dummies?” So asked.

According to So, based on the information from NFA during the panel’s hearing, the agency still has a remaining P8.5-billion budget for the procurement of palay.

“The P8.5-billion budget can be used to procure at least 447,368 metric tons of palay or 290,789 metric tons of rice stocks,” So added.

So said the NFA can boost its buffer stock if it will be able to procure at least 290,789 metric tons of rice.

“Our daily consumption is between 32,000 and 35,000 metric tons. The stocks of NFA will improve if the P8.5-billion funding will be used for buying of palay from the farmers,”’ he said.

The current remaining stock of the NFA is pegged at only 46,000 metric tons good for around 1.3 days.