Gordon on Zambo rice crisis: ‘NFA has many failures’

Senator Richard Gordon said the National Food Authority (NFA) has many failures, following the declaration of a state of calamity in Zamboanga City due to a rice crisis.

“Alam mo maraming palpak talaga ‘yang NFA (You know, NFA really has a lot of failures),” Gordon told DWIZ on Saturday when sought for comment on the issue.

Gordon said the rice shortage issue in Zamboanga City forks into three: the leadership in the agency, procurement process, and the ability of citizens to buy rice.

“Kung sapat ang pambili nila, hindi sila matatakot (If their money is enough, they won’t be afraid),” he said.

According to the senator, the crisis calls for government to build better warehouses that can protect the rice from pests and bad weather.

“Pwede tayo magtayo ng mga bagong warehouses na talagang hindi papasukin ng peste and maganda ang climate condition para presko ang bigas natin,” he said.

(We can build new warehouses that cannot be entered by pests and has a good climate condition so our rice can be fresh.)

But despite lamenting the issue, Gordon, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that investigates the accountability of government officials, said he will refrain from launching a Senate probe for now.

“Hindi muna ako mag-iimbestiga, titiisin ko muna. Ang focus muna natin ay solusyon,” he said.

(I won’t investigate yet, I will endure it for now. Our focus in on the solution.)

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol in a statement on Friday said the state of calamity has been lifted in Zamboanga as new stocks came in the city.  /muf

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