The National Food Authority (NFA) admitted that at least 4 million bags of imported rice remain inside its warehouses.
NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal admitted this before a Senate hearing as she explained why the agency could no longer accommodate to buy more palay from local farmers.
Senator Imee Marcos asked for the confirmation if there was indeed 9 million bags of rice, the NFA said that there are only 4 million.
“Sabihin po natin ang totoo. Kaya hindi kayo bumibili o nagbebenta kasi santambak pa ‘yung imported is not buying or selling because of the huge stocks of imported rice in your possession,” Marcos said.
290,00 metric tons of rice have not been sold following the government’s move to import more rice last year due to the rice shortage.
Senator Cynthia Villar said the NFA should have informed the government about the stocks and should’ve bought more produce from local farmers.
“You are supposed to buy and sell to stabilize the prices of rice. Kasama kayo sa magulo kaya tayo nagkaganito. Ang tao sinisisi na kayo,” Villar said.
The Senator added that the government should protect the welfare of farmers.
