DA: 6 M bags of NFA rice may rot

At least six million bags of National Food Authority rice have been stocked too long and may rot if not disposed of soon, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA), as Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. urged Congress to pass a law allowing the NFA to sell its stocks in the market.

- By BELLA CARIASO

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa told The STAR yesterday that the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) removed all the regulatory powers of the NFA.

"The NFA has at least six million bags (of rice). If only the NFA has the opportunity to sell rice, it can sell in the market at P30 (per kilo). It cannot do it as it will violate the law and will even be charged," De Mesa said.

He added that under the RTL, the NFA is only allowed to sell its stocks to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense and local government units.

"To prevent the rice stocks from aging, we have the P29 program to release some of the stocks but the volume is not that big. We will have the next harvest season and if the stocks will not be released, it will be difficult for the NFA to procure (palay again from the farmers) because of so many stocks and this is where we will have possible problems," De Mesa noted.