NFA to review policy restricting sale of P18.25 rice

MANILA, Philippines – Under fire from some lawmakers, the National Food Authority (NFA) on Tuesday vowed to review the policy limiting the sale of government rice to specific outlets and family access card holders. During the House subcommittee hearing on the proposed NFA budget for 2009, NFA administrator Jessup Navarro said they will discuss the policy with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which he said implements the program. “We will review the policy and we will discuss it with the DSWD,” said Navarro. “The deadline is October 1. We will resolve the matter before that time.” Under the policy, the sale of P18.25 per kilogram government-subsidized rice will be pulled out of markets and restricted to “Tindahan Natin” outlets and holders of family access cards that are chosen by the DSWD based on the poorest families in an area. Those who want to avail of government-subsidized rice will have to settle for the P25 per kilogram variation offered in NFA retail outlets. Navarro made the statement after Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay denounced the restricting of the sale of P18.25 per kilogram NFA rice. “Nakapagbenta po ako ng bigas…dumaan ako sa proseso sa inyo,” said Magsaysay. “Tapos ngayon sasabihin niyo hindi na ko pwedeng magtinda. Pare-parehas lang naman tayong naglilingkod sa gobyerno, sana wag niyo naman kami pahirapan.” (“I followed the process and was able to sell rice. Now you’re telling me I can no longer sell rice. We’re all in the government. I hope you will not make life difficult for some of us.”) Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman echoed Magsaysay’s protest, saying the NFA budget should not be approved until the matter is resolved. Earlier this month, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) scored the NFA for pulling out its subsidized rice from markets, especially at the time of high costs of living. "The pullout of subsidized NFA rice from public markets will surely perpetuate the hunger that many poor Filipino families now face. Especially at these times of double-digit inflation, the government should even be expanding the access of people to cheap rice instead of limiting it," Bayan spokesman Arnold Padilla said in a statement. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV