The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Rose de la Cruz
The Ombudsman is now investigating the sale of rice– mandated to be used for buffer stocking for relief operations during emergencies and calamities (both natural and man-made)– to select private millers and traders by the National Food Authority from 2023 to January this year.
In an interview with broadcaster, Anthony ‘Tunying’ Taverna, Ombudsman Samuel Martirez said investigators in his agency are doing intensive probe into the issue, which was first reported to the NFA Council, chaired by the President and a formal copy of which was furnished and received by the Office of the President recently.
Investigators from the Ombudsman’s office will also probe the regional managers, NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco, Assistant Administrator for Operations Engr.John Robert Hermano and the regional managers for Regions 4 and NCR for selling allegedly “deteriorating rice stocks” but which laboratory tests showed were “fit for consumption” to four select rice traders/millers on instruction of rebagging the supplies in sacks without NFA markings.
Taverna said the stocks were sold to the traders for P25 per kg (which NFA bought for P23) to be sold at commercial rates. He added that the stocks sold at P25 per kg involved 127,000 metric tons valued at P180 million for January 2024 alone.
Similar sale of supposedly old and deteriorating rice stocks were completed in 2023, according to the report sent to the NFA Council and the Office of the Presdient by Engr. Lemuel Pagayunan (who was replaced by Boco with Engr. Hermano at the Office of the Assistant Administrator for Operations on trumped up charges from Region 4 Manager Alvin Uy).
Pagayunan was returned to his post last January.
The anomalous sale (which was not approved by the Council, which has the sole right to procure, lease, dispose or mortgage NFA property) bore receipts and timelines. The four consummated and receipted sales were covered by Administrative Orders namely: 1). AO 2024-01–042 dated January 31, 2024 issued to Region 4 Regional Manager Alwin M. Uy of 25,000 bags worth P31.25 million to G4 Rice Mill Corp ()received by Ma. Lourdes F. Reyes) with OR #0491860 dated January 29, 2024; 2) AO2024-01-043 of Januaryt 31, 2024 issued to R4 Regional Manager Alwin M. Uy for 17,500 bags worth P31.25 million received and paid for by G4 Rice Mills San Manuel Corp (received by Lemuel C. Lunar with ORNo. 0491861 on January 29, 2024; 3) another 7,500 bags issued to NCR Regional Manager Maria Lewina A. Tolentino; and 4) AO2024-01-044 of January 31, 2024 issued to Region 4 Regional Manager Alwin M. Uy for 25,000 bags worth P31.25 million sold to NBK San Pedro Rice Mill and received by Anna Marie delos Santos with OR No. 0491862 dated January 29, 2024.
The stocks should instead have gone to NFA’s official customers namely: the Department of Social Work and DEvelopment; the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; the local government units and others, Taverna insisted.
A simiilar investigation is also being done by the Department of Agriculture, through Undersecretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement, Atty. Alvin John Balagbag, Chief of Staff of Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel.