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Food agency intensifies 'Palengke Watch' |
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Source Bong Garcia
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Monday, 23 April 2007 |
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The National Food Authority (NFA) is intensifying its campaign dubbed as "Palengke Watch," aimed at running after unscrupulous businessmen who are selling NFA rice beyond the government-regulated price in Zamboanga City.
NFA Provincial Manager Jul Akmad Lawama said his office has received numerous reports and complaints that several businessmen are selling NFA rice at a higher price than that of the required selling price.
Lawama said some of the businessmen are selling the NFA rice at P22 to P23 per kilo. The government-regulated price for NFA rice is P18 a kilo.
Aside from that, Lawama said the NFA rice that were withdrawn from his office are not being displayed by the businessmen in their respective stores thereby forcing the buying public to purchase commercial rice.
He said anyone who will be caught hoarding and selling the NFA rice at a higher price will be dealt with accordingly. They can be fined and their license revoked.
All businessmen who want to engage in selling rice are required to secure license from the NFA aside from the business permit from the local government.
Lawama said the businessmen could not use as alibi the NFA rice shortage in the market since his office is releasing a maximum of 10 sacks weekly to each of the businessmen at the local market.
Lawama's office received a shipment of 12 metric tons of imported rice since January. The rice came from Vietnam and Thailand.
He foresees that some of the businessmen are taking advantage by selling the NFA rice at a commercial price, as the stocks they receive are of high-grade quality.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 April 2007 )
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