President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte has assured Filipinos that there is a sufficient supply of rice, despite fears of a rice shortage in the country.
“Ngayon sinasabi nila na may shortage daw ng bigas. Eh marami namang bigas, paparating pa nga dito eh. Ngayon sumobra nga,” Duterte said during his meeting with the Filipino community in Israel on Sunday evening (Monday morning in Manila).
(Now they’re saying that there’s a shortage of rice. But there’s plenty of rice, and it’s even coming here. Now there’s even an excess.)
READ: Senators blame NFA for rice shortage, high prices
He also claimed that these issues have floated just because of politics.
“You know, those are politics. I would like to remind you that I won because of the vote of the Filipino,” he added.
READ: Rice with ‘bukbok’ safe for consumption after fumigation — NFA
Recently, the National Food Authority (NFA) was embroiled in controversy after sacks of rice in ships were found to contain “bokbok” or rice weevils. NFA claimed that these grains are safe to eat even after fumigation.
According to NFA, the problem would delay unloading by seven to twelve days.
READ: Removing ‘bokbok’ from sacks of rice might delay deliveries — NFA
Several lawmakers have called for the NFA’s abolition and the resignation of its top officials including Administrator Jason Aquino and Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol. /je