Piñol: Reliance of Zambasulta area on smuggled rice caused shortage

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol clarified on Monday that only one area in the country is affected by rice shortage, and it is not caused by the issue of rice infested with “bokbok” or weevil.

According to Piñol, the rice shortage in Zambasulta (Zamboanga, Basilan Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) was caused by the area’s reliance on smuggled rice.

“They have relied on smuggled rice for so long, but a month ago, the Malaysian authorities closed the ports where the transshipment actually happens,” he said.

“For so long they have relied on that. Pagsara ng gripo, wala silang bigas, and that caused the rice shortage,” he explained.

The secretary said boats from Vietnam and Thailand are allegedly approached by Filipinos through “kumpits” or small fast boats that bring sacks of rice to the Zambasulta area.

However, he assured that the National Food Authority (NFA) is working to resolve the problem by approving the allocation of additional rice.

“Inaprubahan ng NFA council last week ‘yong allocation ng 32,000 metric tons (of rice) specially for Zambasulta. That’s part of the 805,000 metric tons na minimum access volume na hindi nagamit,” he said.

Earlier, both Piñol and President Rodrigo Duterte said the country has a sufficient supply of rice, and the alleged shortage stems from speculation.

“The problem that we are facing right now is simply speculation. There is no shortage of food, there is no shortage of rice. There is enough.” Piñol claimed.

The President also said the issue was due to “politics.”

“Ngayon sinasabi nila na may shortage daw ng bigas. Eh marami namang bigas, paparating pa nga dito eh. Ngayon sumobra nga […] You know those are politics.” Duterte said during his meeting with the Filipino community in Israel.  /vvp

READ: Duterte assures public: There’s ‘plenty of rice’