THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) must make sure that President Duterte’s marching order to go after rice hoarders and smugglers is implemented.
There appears to be a “shortage” of National Food Authority (NFA) rice, which is the cheapest rice variety in the market at P27 per kilo. This is about half the price of commercial rice and is the one usually bought by poor Filipinos, if they have money for food at all.
Certain rice traders are reportedly hoarding rice on purpose, resulting to artificial shortage that drives the prices up.
In his third State of the Nation Address, the President issued a stern warning to all of these rice syndicates. These are his exact words: “We also need to address the issue of artificial rice shortage. I now ask all the rice hoarders, cartels and their protectors, you know that I know who you are: stop messing with the people… Power sometimes is not a good thing. But I hope I will not have to use it against you. Consider yourselves warned; mend your ways now or the full force of the State shall be brought to bear upon you. I am directing all intelligence agencies to unmask the perpetrators of this economic sabotage and our law enforcement agencies to bring them to justice.”
Last year in General Santos City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a warehouse where NFA rice was being repacked. Dubious rice repacking activities involve the mixing of cheap NFA rice into commercial rice varieties. This way, rice traders can turn a bigger profit. How rampant is this practice across the country?
The Bureau of Customs, NBI and the police should scour warehouses to find hoarded rice.
Hoarding rice is economic sabotage. This is a non-bailable offense. This is price manipulation.
