Would you eat rice infested with weevils, also known as “bukbok”? Would you eat rice that has been fumigated, because of weevils? Weevils or bukbok are a type of beetle commonly found in rice and grain. Ingesting them poses no harm to humans, so they say. More than a hundred thousand sacks of rice from Thailand were discovered to be infested with weevils in a warehouse in Subic. It is not sure if they were already infested from Thailand, or if they became infested here. The NFA said that the rice will undergo fumigation, and claims it is still safe to eat. In fact, NFA officials, including the administrator are willing to eat the rice, to show that it is safe. I wonder what fumigated rice that was infested with weevils tastes like? I think I prefer rice that has not already been enjoyed by an insect, no matter how safe it is. That’s just me.
However, a lawmaker said that the NFA’s statement was irresponsible, as the Department of Agriculture is the only agency that can certify if rice is safe for consumption. There was also an outcry over why the rice in Subic was left for the weevils to enjoy, while there was a shortage of the staple food in Zamboanga. Obviously, something went wrong with regards to the timely distribution of rice in different parts of the country. Someone, somewhere was incompetent. Why the shortage in Zamboanga, if there are a hundred thousand sacks of it in Subic? I’m sure the finger pointing will commence in earnest, since the issue is a hot one at the moment. According to officials, the shortage of rice in Zamboanga is the result of rampant rice smuggling in the city. When the smuggled rice ran out, prices of local rice soared.
Whether rice is legally or illegally imported, the issue is that rice is still outsourced. I cannot help but wonder why we cannot sustain ourselves with rice, that we have to import tons from other countries. Farmers that can no longer compete with cheap, smuggled rice turn to another crop in order to earn a living. We have the land, just not enough motivation to plant it with rice. The plight of the farmers never ends. They are playing on an uneven field. What they need is the protection and support of the government, such as a call for more serious penalties for rice smugglers.
Lawmakers are asking President Duterte to put a cap on the price of rice, because of spiraling prices. But more importantly, deal with rampant smuggling. But placing a cap on rice may be easier said than done, as the law requires that a state of calamity be declared, before a cap on rice can be ordered by the president. I guess the lawmakers, particularly the committee on agriculture and food, have their work cut out for them. If a law is what it takes to help and support local farmers, then by all means, get to it.