Makabayan solons move to uncover issues on rice, galunggong in PH

Officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry along with the National Food Authority conduct sampling on the sacks of imported rice from Thailand inside MV Emperor 1 docked at the Tabaco City port.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN / INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

Progressive lawmakers at the House of Representatives have sought separate investigations into the country’s rice crisis, the government’s plan to import galunggong (round scad), and the recent discovery of imported rice infested with weevil (bukbok).

The Makabayan opposition bloc composed of Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, ACT-Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago filed House Resolution (HR) 2120 on Thursday seeking to investigate the “severe rice crisis now devastating the poor.”

They noted the “scarcity of P27 and P32 per kilo” National Food Authority (NFA) or government-subsidized rice in markets nationwide, as well as “unconscionable” hikes in the prices of commercial rice, which even reached P60 to P70 in places like Zamboanga City.

READ: Zamboanga City under state of calamity due to rice shortage

The lawmakers believe that food security must be based on self-sufficiency.

“Thus, the government must boost the capacity of NFA and order it to buy Filipino farmers’ palay at P20 per kilo on a massive scale and make rice affordable and available in all markets nationwide,” they added.

The group also filed HR 2106 calling for the scrapping of the Department of Agriculture administrative order to the importation of the 17,000 metric tons (MT) of imported galunggong.

They have also sought investigations into the over 100,000 sacks of weevil-infested rice imported from Thailand that the NFA had discovered at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, as well as the reported rice crisis in Zamboanga. /jpv

READ: Rice with ‘bukbok’ safe for consumption after fumigation — NFA