Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 22) — A lawmaker on Tuesday slammed the Department of Agriculture (DA) for selling rice buffer stocks in Kadiwa stores, stressing that it should only be distributed to victims of calamities.
\”Kung gusto natin tumulong, derestyo na natin ibigay.\” Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said before the House Committee of Appropriations. \” Instead na ipamigay ‘yun, kumita pa ang NFA (National Food Authority).\”
[Translation: If we want to help, we have to directly give it to those in need. Instead of distributing it, the NFA made money from it.]
NFA administrator Roderico Bioco, however, said the selling of rice buffer stocks was prompted on \”special occasions, as requested by the Department of Agriculture, especially when the president would like to give it to the poor.\”
\”The selling of rice from the buffer stocks in Kadiwa stores is an instruction from the DA, but the basis for that [is] poverty is a form of calamity,\” Bioco said.
\”Ang nakukuha ko po doon ay ang paghihirap ng mamayanan, ano ba siya? Man made calamity caused by this administration?\” Manuel said.
[Translation: What I am getting from your explanation is that the hardship of our people is caused by this administration.]
The Rice Tariffication Law states that “the NFA’s buffer stocks is primarily for emergency distribution in support of disaster relief programs.”
\”If, however, there are no calamities, the NFA can regularly replenish the inventory and sell to avoid spoilage,\” the law further read.
According to Bioco, less than 5,000 sacks of rice buffer stocks were released in Kadiwa stores from 2022 to early 2023.
\”Parang self-serving eh na kukuha doon at ibebenta ng mas mura. It creates the illusion na naging mas mura yung bigas sa ating bansa,\” Manuel said.
\”Ibig sabihin, ilegal ‘yan [pagbebenta ng rice buffer stocks] at dapat matigil ‘yan dahil ayaw natin ng band-aid solution when it comes to lowering the price of rice,\” Manuel said.
[Translation: it is self-serving given that it comes from the buffer stocks and is sold at a cheaper price than in regular markets. It creates the illusion that the price of rice in the country has gone down. This means, the selling of rice buffer stocks should be illegal and it should be halted because we do not want a band-aid solution when it comes to lowering the price of rice.]
President Marcos earlier said the prices of rice will stabilize as the palay harvest is expected to peak from late September to October.
READ: Marcos assures public of ‘stable’ rice supply, price stability as palay harvest starts
