THE Department of Agriculture (DA) today ordered a thorough probe on the alleged improper selling of National Food Authority (NFA) rice to certain traders.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. created a panel of investigators that will look into allegations that certain NFA officials allegedly authorized the sale of milled rice stored in the agency’s warehouse for P25 a kilo without bidding and after purchasing the grains in palay form at P23 per kilo, which the agri chief said is definitely disadvantageous to the government.
“We do not brush aside reports of impropriety against officials of the Department of Agriculture, regardless of the source. We also welcome any government agency who may wish to conduct their own probe to ferret out the truth,” Tiu Laurel said.
“We are custodians of government funds—monies to be spent for the benefit of Filipinos, especially farmers and fisherfolk. Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be squandered to line anybody’s pockets,” he added.
Tiu Laurel said farmers and fishermen have long been neglected for several decades as some officials tasked to look after their welfare focused instead on enriching themselves.
“Those who profit at the expense of farmers and fisherfolk as well as Filipino consumers should be meted the harshest penalty under the law,” he stressed.