Syndicates at NFA manipulating rice data? Poe wants to know

NFA rice has disappeared in many outlets, like in this stall in Kamuning Market which sells commercial rice. (JAMSTA. ROSA)

Senator Grace Poe believes that a legislative inquiry is in order to find out if there are syndicates trying to manipulate the country’s rice supply data.

In a chance interview, Poe noted the significance of getting to the bottom of the disagreement between the National Food Authority (NFA) and Department of Agriculture (DA) on whether or not there was a need to import rice.

“Palagi na lang nangyayari ito (rice shortage). Bakit umaabot sa ganito? Meron bang mga sindikato sa loob na nagpipigil ng tamang datos na ilabas? Kung meron ba talaga, sapat o hindi sapat?” Poe told reporters on Saturday.

Poe was asked for her comment on the conflicting statement of the NFA and DA on the importation of rice. NFA officials were pushing for rice importation while DA officials said there was no need to import rice because the country recorded a buffer harvest of 19.4 million metric tons in 2017.

READ: NFA rice import plan questioned

But President Rodrigo Duterte has already allowed the NFA to import an additional 250,000 metric tons of rice, a move that did not sit well with various farmers’ groups.

READ: NFA Plan to import rice draws flak

Poe said that with the NFA’s rice import plan in place, an investigation should also be conducted to determine whether or not there was an attempt to manipulate prices.

“Huwag tayo mag-import kung meron naman tayong sapat. Kaya lang, sinasabi na hindi. Mahirap naman magkaubusan (ng bigas),” Poe said.

“Mag-import tayo ngayon, pero imbestigahan natin. Dapat lang na magkaroon ng hearing (sa Senado).”

“Kriminal ang pigilin ang malayang pagbebenta o kaya sa tamang halaga ang bigas dahil ‘yan ang basic need. Hindi ko alam kung minamaniobra ito ng iilan,” the senator also stressed.                         /kga