NFA’s ₱115K retail license fee slammed

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian described the National Food Authority’s (NFA) move to charge retailers a 1115,000 to be able to sell rice as “ill-conceived,” saying such policy is impractical and would further derail the government's efforts at resolving rice supply woes.

Gatchalian urged the NFA to immediately scrap the imposition of the exorbitant license fee to help flood the markets with affordable rice.

"This is an ill-conceived move of the NFA. Akala ko ba ang gusto nila ay dumami ang magbenta ng murang bigas? Paano mangyayari 'yon kung ikaw na nga ang humingi ng tulong, ikaw pa ang maniningil ng pagkamahal-mahal na permit fee? (I thought they wanted more retailers to sell cheaper rice? How can that happen when the government which sought their help, is demanding a steep fee?)” Gatchalian said.

The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (Pagasa), Inc. recently disclosed that the NFA is charging R115,000 from retailers with a paid-up capital of R10-million before they are allowed to retail sought-after, cheaper NFA rice.

The government earlier sought the assistance of Pagasa, Inc. to help flood the market with affordable rice.

“Kung ikaw ba ang may-ari ng supermarket, magbabayad ka ba ng permit fee na 'yan if in the first place eh 'di ka naman required magbenta ng NFA rice? (If you are the owner of a supermarket, would you pay such amount if in the first place you’re not even required to sell NFA rice?)” Gatchalian pointed out.

"This is yet another reason why the NFA should be abolished," he stressed.