NFA: Rice importation always aboveboard

MANILA, Philippines - We vehemently deny the allegation that executives of the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority are making millions in rice importation since the procedures of rice importation have always been fair, aboveboard and done in the most transparent manner in compliance with the provisions of the Government Procurement Act or RA 9184. This refers to the story “Guingona: DA, NFA execs making millions” published in The Philippine STAR dated yesterday (March 10, 2010).

We want to emphasize that neither the National Food Authority nor any of its executives unilaterally determine the volume of rice to be imported. Any decision to import and the volume to be imported are done by the Inter Agency Committee on Cereals (IAC). The IAC members are the DA (Policy and Planning, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Rice and Corn, National Irrigation Administration, National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA).

The decision to import is based on statistical data and surveys provided by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) related to palay production for the year, the projected beginning rice inventory for the following year, and daily and historical annual rice consumption requirement. For the 2010 rice importation, the damage on the country’s palay production by the successive typhoons during the 2009 main harvest and the projected El Niño effect on agricultural crops this year were given consideration. The role of the NFA is solely to facilitate the importation.

Also in keeping with RA 9184 provisions, the volumes of rice to be imported are being published ahead of time along with the scheduled pre-bidding and bidding proper. In addition, we also invite observers to the bidding among them representatives from the Commission on Audit, the Procurement Transparency Board that includes members from the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) duly represented by Atty. Pat Menzon, the civil society, farmers and non-government organizations as well as media practitioners. The media also covers the scheduled pre-bidding and bidding proper.

We hope we have clarified the matter and our reply merits space in your prestigious newspaper. — REX C. ESTOPEREZ, Director for Public Affairs, NFA