Tulfo blasts NFA officials over illegal sale of rice to favored traders | ABS-CBN

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Tulfo blasts NFA officials over illegal sale of rice to favored traders

Tulfo blasts NFA officials over illegal sale of rice to favored traders

Willard Cheng,

ABS-CBN News

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Rice and other basic goods are sold at the Department of Trade and Industry's Suking Outlet in Quezon City on September 18, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file
Rice and other basic goods are sold at the Department of Trade and Industry's Suking Outlet in Quezon City on September 18, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file

Senator Raffy Tulfo has lashed out at several officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) and accused them of profiting from the illegal sale of rice to favored traders without bidding.

 In a privilege speech, Tulfo named “NFA Rice Sales Officials” Alwin Uy, Charles Alingod, Max Torda and a certain “Navarro” and accused suspended NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco as their “leader.”

“Paano po ba ang modus nila?  Una po, nakakabili sila ng palay sa mababang halaga na 24 pesos at may dagdag na 2 pesos subsidy from the LGU bilang bahagi ng Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and Local Government Units o PALLGU.  So nakukuha po ng NFA ang palay sa halagang 26 pesos.  Tapos ito po ay ipagigiling nila and they will pay it in kind or with rice mill by-products,” he said.

“Pagkatapos itong office of the administrator ay maghahanap ng stocks na pwede nila ibenta.  Inuutusan niya itong si Director Alwin Uy at Charles Alingod to identify stocks and instruct the Quality Asssurance Officer to issue a Laboratory Analysis Report na magdedeklara na ang good stocks ay wala na sa maayos na kondisyon.  At pag nakuhaan na ng mga Lab Report itong mga bigas na ito, Administrator Bioco and a certain Navarro will ask Alingod and Uy to negotiate the sale of rice to private millers at sila na din ang kokolekta ng patong on behalf of Bioco and Navarro.  At pag nagkasarahan na, they will issue rice sales to the millers gamit ang mga Lab Report na nagsasabing not fit for human consumption upang mapababa ang presyo ng mga ito."

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“Grabe na ang garapalan sa NFA.  Imagine, nagbenta ng 150,000 bags of good rice tapos yung mga nangangailangan na ahensya tinitipid nila?” Tulfo said.

Tulfo reminded the NFA of its mandate to supposedly “procure palay locally and maintain the optimal level of buffer stock at all times strategically located across the country.”  

“It shall manage efficiently and effectively the acquisition, quality maintenance, and disposition of the buffer stock during emergencies and calamities.  And according to their website, among their core values are Professionalism, Service Excellence and Accountability.  That is what I want to demand from them.  Show us this professionalism, service excellence and accountability,” he said.

Tulfo challenged Bioco to show up in a probe that the Senate will conduct, commending  the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture Cynthia Villar for already filing a resolution seeking the investigation of the matter.

“Bioco, during the House hearing, said there was no irregularity in the sale.  He said this with a straight face in the House.  Well, I challenge him.  Come here in the Senate and repeat that to me,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo’s privilege speech was referred to the blue ribbon committee and agriculture committee.

The NFA officials and the agency have yet to issue a statement regarding Tulfo's allegations, as of posting.


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