Binay urges Piñol to convene NFA execs and address impending rice shortage

Senator Nancy Binay. PHOTO FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR NANCY BINAY

Amid the shortage of National Food Authority’s (NFA) rice supply, Senator Nancy Binay called on Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol to speak with NFA officials and come up with plans to immediately address the dwindling supply of rice in the country.

“Pakiusap ko sana magusap sina Secretary Piñol, yung NFA Council, pati na din yung pamunuan [ng] NFA na upuan niyo talaga at mag-usap,” Binay said on Thursday.

(My request is for Secretary Piñol, the NFA Council and the leadership of NFA to sit down and seriously talk.)

On Tuesday, the NFA said it only has 65,200 metric tons of NFA rice—or two days’ worth of milled rice— while the agency is waiting for the clearance to import.

READ: NFA rice: Only 2 days’ supply left

This was short of the NFA’s requirement to come up with at least 15 days’ worth of rice consumption at any given time.

The lady senator urged agriculture officials to stop finger pointing and instead find alternative means to address the limited rice supply.

“Ang concern ko bakit tayo umabot sa punto na halos wala nang nabibiling NFA rice. Artificial lang ba ito? May naghohoard ba? Sino ang nakikinabang dito?” Binay said.

(My concern is why we reached a point that no more NFA rice available. Is this only artificial? Is someone hoarding these? Who are benefitting from this?)

“Kung hindi puwede mag-import, hanapan ng alternatibong paraan ‘wag nang marami pang dahilan, at iwasan ang turuan,” she said.

(If we can’t import, find an alternative way instead and don’t issue a lot of reasons.)

Binay also appealed to commercial traders not to “take advantage of the situation and instead help keep rice prices stable.” /jpv