NBI Raids Govt Warehouse Repacking NFA Rice In Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 11, 2008) – The National Bureau of Investigation in Davao City in southern Philippines raided a government warehouse after receiving reports that it is being used to repack rice which would be later sold to a higher price.

NBI agents raided the warehouse of the National Food Authority in the village of Ilang in Tibungco district before midnight Tuesday and caught several people repacking rice.

The NFA is a government agency tasked to sell rice at authorized grains dealers in the country. NFA rice sells at P18.25 a kilo and the NBI said the repacked rice is being sold at P35 a kilo.

The shortage of NFA rice in the country since early this year has prompted Manila to import thousands of tons of rice from Thailand, Vietnam and the United States and sells them at P25 a kilo.

Despite the importation of rice, the Philippines still has shortage of grains, but there were suspicion that NFA rice were being repacked by unscrupulous traders and sell them as much as P40 a kilo.

President Gloria Arroyo has ordered the NBI to run after rice hoarders and file criminal charges against traders violating the law. (Romy Bwaga)

Rice Hoarder Sa Mindanao, Parurusahan!

DIGOS CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 3, 2008) - Dahil sa biglang pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas sa Mindanao ay magsasagawa umano ng malawakang imbestigasyon ang Department of Agriculture upang mabatid ang dahilan nito at patawan ng kaparusahan ang mga tiwaling negosyanteng.

Umaabot na sa mahigit P50 ang halaga ng bigas bawat kilo sa mga palengke sa ilang lugar dito at sa iba pang bahagi ng southern Mindanao. Ito’y sa kabila ng sapat na bigas sa Mindanao.

Sinisipat ng mga awtoridad ang umabno’y mga rice hoarders na sityang itinuturong nasa likod ng biglang pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas.

Sinabi sa Mindanao Examiner ni Roger Chio, ang regional director ng DA, na maraming mga nagrereklamong mamamayan dahil itinatago diumano ng ilang may-ari ng palabigasan ang kanilang suplay partikular na sa siyudad ng Davao at Digos.

“Aalamin ng DA ang katotohanan sa balitang rice hoarding at mananagot talaga ang sino mang mapatunayang may sala rito," ani pa ni Chio.

Para masigurong may suplay ng bigas ang residente ng rehiyon magpapakalat ng maraming outlet ng National Food Authority para may mabilhan ng murang bigas ng taong bayan.

"Sana naman bababa na ang presyo ng bigas para hindi na masyadong mahirapan ang taong bayan," pahayag pa ni Chio. (Romy Bwaga)