DUTERTE...

He also instructed the DTI, NFA, National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to form a surveillance team that will monitor importation and distribution of agricultural products.

The surveillance team was mandated to ensure distribution of agricultural products to warehouse and retail outlets, as well as to prevent illegal acts of price manipulation.

Duterte wanted the DA, DTI, NFA, Sugar Regulatory Administration, and the Bureau of Customs to sumbit a monthly report on the status of the implementation of AO 13.

Similarly, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has signed three memoranda to ensure seamless delivery of agricultural and fishery products.

Under Memorandum Order (MO) 26, Medialdea directed the DA and the DTI to adopt measures to reduce the gap between farmgate prices and retail prices of agricultural products, including the setting up of public outlets and cold storages where agricultural traders and poultry producers can sell directly to their customers.

Medialdea also signed MO 27, which tasked the DA, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the PNP, and the Metro Manila Development to ensure the efficient and seamless delivery of imported agriculture and fishery products from the ports to markets.

Under MO 27, Medialdea suggested the issuance of food lane passes for truckers and suppliers carrying agricultural products to stabilize the prices of basic agricultural commodities at reasonable levels.

MO 28 was also inked by Medialdea, directing the NFA to immediately release approximately 230,000 metric tons or rice stocks in its warehouses to the domestic markets.

“The NFA shall likewise immediately release the 100,000 metric tons of rice previously contracted to be delivered before the end of September,” Medialdea said in MO 28.

“Subject to applicable laws and issuances, the NFA is further directed to adopt measures to ensure access by consumers to regular milled and well milled rice,” he added.

The three memoranda were signed on September 21. (SunStar Philippines)