BRGY. PAWING, Palo, Leyte – National Food Authority (NFA) Regional Director Benjamin B. Marta yesterday informed that the agency is heightening its efforts in monitoring the supply and prices of NFA rice which is pegged at P18.00 per kilogram nationwide.
To ensure stability and availability of our basic staple, Marta said the agency regularly deploys its enforcement team to check on supply and price trends. Likewise, movement of NFA rice is closely monitored so that the commodity reaches its target beneficiaries, not diverted and tagged as commercial rice.
While Marta admits that eliminating diversion of NFA stocks and other malpractice in the grains business is one of the responsibilities of the agency, the public can contribute much to help prevent such violations by just being vigilant.
“Anybody can help the agency by simply reporting to the nearest NFA office any legitimate and observable complaints about government rice,” he said. Aside from diversion of stocks, other violations include engaging in the grains business without a valid NFA license, non-display of price tags, short weighing, unauthorized possession of government rice, selling rice an dits by-products using the ganta or other instruments in violation of the standard weight of measurement by kilogram and rice boxes not painted white or use of other containers other than rice boxes for rice display or for sale and non-compliance with the Philippine Grains Standardization Program (PGSP) regulation.
Marta said those caught with these offenses will have to pay administrative fines or will entail cancellation of their license depending on the number of times the violation has been committed.
Meanwhile, the NFA regional director stated that the agency is still awaiting the arrival of the NFA Iron-Fortified Rice (IFR). He informed that the agency’s importation of IFR from Vietnam is part of its compliance with the Food Fortification Program under Republic Act 8976 which required rice and other food items to be supplemented with Vitamin A, iron or other nutrients.
