No rice supply shortage – Sen. Villar

MANILA — Filipinos should not panic over the alleged short supply of rice in the country as there is enough rice, a senator said yesterday.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, told Super Radyo dzBB that, "hindi nagkukulang ang suplay ng bigas, ang National Food Authority ang nag kukulang."

Villar also said that the Senate probe into the low buffer stock of NFA rice and the agency's role in ensuring the stability of the price of the staple will begin on February 27, a senator said Sunday.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, earlier filed Senate Resolution 608 seeking an inquiry on the status of NFA rice supply and its mandate on buffer stocking for food security and stabilization.

Officials from NFA and its council as well as key officials in the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Management and Department of Finance will be invited to the hearing, Villar said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

According to her, the "problem" lies in the NFA's failure to fulfill its mandate as the low buffer stock also happened twice last year, adding that the agency should have gone to provinces where farmers offer cheaper rice to replenish the current buffer stock which is said to be enough for only two days.

The NFA is required by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to maintain a 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30 days at the onset of the lean months of July to September.