KMP: Rice imports to benefit only trade cartels

NFA workers unload tons of rice imported from Vietnam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY—A militant peasant group called on Congress to put a stop to the continued deluge of imported rice into the country, saying the importation would benefit only a cartel of rice dealers that manipulates prices.

The left-wing Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), in a statement, said it was not surprised by the failed bidding process conducted by the National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday for suppliers for the 500,000 metric tons of rice the government is importing.

The NFA said offers made by LG International, Louis Dreyfuss Corp., Vietnam Northern Food Corp. and Vietnam Southern Food Corp. were all deemed “nonresponsive” and higher than the NFA’s approved budget of $456.60 per metric ton.

In the statement, KMP chair Rafael Mariano said the rice importation policy of the government would not only bring more misery to farmers but also lead to prices being manipulated by cartels and to public funds being siphoned off to the pockets of corrupt agriculture officials in the form of kickbacks.

“The importation policy has been the well of multibillion-

peso scams by corrupt officials and their syndicate partners in the industry,” said Mariano.

At a recent budget hearing in the House of Representatives, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the government would import 800,000 MT of rice on top of the 500,000 MT announced by President Aquino in his State of the Nation Address in July.

Mariano called on the two chambers of Congress to start an investigation on the rice importation policy, how prices are manipulated and its effects on local farmers, and the operations of a cartel that corners supply and dictates costs.

He said legislators should craft laws that would improve local rice production and provide more support to farmers.