SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has wished that the low-priced rice the National Food Authority (NFA) reportedly sold to certain traders should have been offered to consumers in public markets.
That’s according to House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who said the Speaker has conveyed to him such wish.
He said the Speaker told him that had the NFA sold the rice to the public, thousands of consumers would have benefitted.
“Si Speaker…nung isang araw, kausap ko, e medyo naiinis. Sabi, di sana binagsak nalang din nila sa palengke, lahat ng palengke binigyan nila ng bigas na yan para kahit papano ilang daang libo kababayan natin nakabili ng bigas, rather than napunta lang sa bulsa ng ilan,” Tulfo told a news briefing.
He said the NFA apparently sold the rice at the low price of P25 per kilo.
“Medyo nakakasama ho ng loob at tsaka we’re one with our people, mga kababayan ho natin na naiinis. Binenta mo lang pala ng mura, bakit di mo na binenta sa palengke?” he said.
“Dapat ho talagang panagutan nila yan. Samantalang mga kababayan natin cannot afford to buy (rice)… at P30, P40, sila ibabagsak nila sa P25, ung di ba naman lapastangan naman ho ‘yon at saka insulto,” he said.
Tulfo called for accountability and eventual punishment for those responsible for the sale.
“Dapat ho talaga managot sila, dapat makasuhan sila,” he said.
Upon the Speaker’s directive, the House committee on agriculture is conducting a hearing on Thursday on the reported irregular transaction.
Tulfo said he and his colleagues are interested in finding out why the NFA sold the rice to traders who re-bagged it and sold it to their customers, instead of selling it in public markets.
House Assistant Majority Leader Raul Angelo Bongalon of Ako Bicol Partylist supported Tulfo’s call for accountability for those behind the sale, but suggested that private persons involved should be held accountable as well.
“Hindi lamang dapat sa mga public officials nakatuon ang imbestigasyon, pati narin po sa mga pribadong indibidwal na kasabwat po nito…e makasama din dapat sa mga makasuhan,” he said.
“Maganda dito, sapagkat pinapakita po ng administrasyon na seryoso tayo sa atin pong adhikain na mapababa ang presyo ng ating bigas,” he said.
He said the preventive suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman and implemented by the Department of Agriculture on erring NFA officials also proved that the Marcos administration is serious in its campaign against corruption.
About the Author
