Villar wants scrutiny on NFA rice shortage, status of nation’s food security

Senator Cynthia Villar (PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/EDWIN BACASMAS)

Senator Cynthia Villar has sought for a Senate inquiry into the reported insufficient supply of rice at the National Food Authority (NFA), as well as a review on the role of the agency in ensuring the country’s food security.

Villar filed Senate Resolution No. 608 on Tuesday in a bid to find out how the NFA rice supply dwindled to just two days-worth.

“There is a need to look into the supply of NFA rice for the consuming public, and NFA in fulfilling its administrative capabilities to respond to the need of the people,” Villar wrote in her resolution.

Villar noted that the NFA policy-making body “determines the rice importation program, including placing caps on imports to ensure fair trade.”

Earlier, an Inquirer report stated that there is a low buffer stock at the NFA.

READ: NFA rice: Only 2 days’ supply left

NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte had said that NFA’s buffer stock of about 64,000 metric tons at the end of January was at its “lowest monthly holding in 10 years.”

Olarte had also said that NFA-accredited rice retailers would not be able to sell NFA rice for the time being because of the prevailing low buffer stock.

However, Olarte said that they are awaiting clearance to import an additional 250,000 metric tons of rice to ensure rice availability and stabilize rice stock in the country. Pathricia Ann V. Roxas, INQUIRER.net                                    /kga