PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. conducted a surprise inspection at a warehouse of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Valenzuela City on Saturday morning, Dec. 17, to check its supply of rice.
Asked if rice supply is sufficient, Marcos told reporters, “Oo, mukha naman, so far. Nabawasan kasi, talagang binawasan natin ‘yung importation, doon natin kinukuha sa production. So okay, I think we’ll be alright.”
Marcos however said they have to monitor closely the supply of rice as bad weather may affect production.
“Pero, siyempre, kailangang bantayan nang husto iyan. ‘Pag tinamaan na naman tayo ng masamang weather, mararamdaman na naman natin ‘yan sa supply ng palay, ng bigas,” said the President, who also sits as Agriculture secretary.
Marcos said he went to the NFA warehouse on Saturday because he wanted to see where the supply of rice being sold in Kadiwa stores comes from.
“Nandito lang kami sa NFA warehouse kasi sa tanong — may nagtanong noong nasa Quezon City tayo, ‘yung supply ng Kadiwa ay baka mapatid, baka ma-ano, magkulang. Tinitignan ko kung saan manggagaling ‘yung supply na pinagbibili natin sa mga Kadiwa. So pinuntahan ko muna kung may laman naman ‘yung mga warehouse at merong parating pa nga,” he told reporters.
“This is already the season na naglalabas na ng bigas so tuloy-tuloy na siguro ito para naman matiyak natin na ang Kadiwa ay hindi mauubusan ng commodities na ipagbibili at a good price na P25,” he added.
ONION SUPPLY PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED
Meanwhile, regarding the supply of onions, Marcos said the problem is being addressed.
“Ang nangyayari ngayon is that we’re finding a way. Ang daming nahahanap ngayon na smuggler na kinukuha namin. As quickly as possible, naghahanap nga kami ng paraan kasi usually ‘yan kakasuhan mo pa bago i-auction. By the time i-auction mo ‘yan, wala na, sira na ‘yan. Kaya sabi ko hanap tayo ng paraan para mailabas kaagad, mailagay sa market lahat ‘yan. So ‘yun ang pinag-aaralan namin ngayon,” he said.
“Baka by next week meron na tayong solution,” the President added. (GMA Integrated News)
