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NFA 'failed' in mandate to buy, sell cheap rice: Villar

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1426359" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - The National Food Authority failed to fulfill its mandate to buy rice from local farmers and sell the grain at an affordable price to consumers, Senator Cynthia Villar said Tuesday.</p><p>The agency faced abolition calls last week after a rice shortage forced a state of calamity in Zamboanga City while some 130,000 sacks of government-subsidized rice was found infested with &quot;bukbok&quot; or weevils in Subic Bay.</p><p>The NFA has funds to buy rice from farmers at P17 per kilo, mill it and sell it at P27 to P32 -- cheaper than commercial grain retailing for P43 to P55 per kilo, said Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food.</p><p>However, the agency last year diverted billions of pesos from its budget to pay off maturing loans instead of using funds to buy grain, said the senator, citing a Commission on Audit report.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/08/18/coa-nfa-used-p5-billion-for-loan-payment-instead-of-buying-rice">COA: NFA used P5 billion for loan payment instead of buying rice</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I guess they failed in their mandate,&quot; Villar told radio DZMM.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/22/18/state-of-calamity-declared-in-zamboanga-city-due-to-rice-shortage">State of calamity declared in Zamboanga City due to rice shortage</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/26/18/nfa-rice-infested-with-bukbok-safe-to-eat-after-fumigation">NFA: Rice infested with &#x27;bukbok&#x27; safe to eat after fumigation</a></li></ul><p>The NFA had encountered delays in unloading rice at its warehouses, where stocks have been depleted since March. Remaining supplies are &quot;very limited,&quot; preventing the agency from influencing market prices, NFA administrator Rex Estoperez said.</p><p>&quot;Walang naiiwan sa atin so dependent tayo sa padating na importation,&quot; he said in a separate DZMM interview.</p><p>(We have no more stocks so we are dependent on the upcoming importation.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/14/18/800000-rice-sacks-languish-at-subic-port-amid-rains">800,000 rice sacks languish at Subic port amid rains</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/27/18/philippines-eyes-extra-132000-tons-of-rice-imports-amid-crisis-in-south">Philippines eyes extra 132,000 tons of rice imports amid &#x27;crisis&#x27; in south</a></li></ul><p>The NFA and National Bureau of Investigation have created a task force to ensure that rice traders are not hoarding rice to spike prices, said Estoperez.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1426357" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div><strong>TARIFF BILL</strong></div><p>Villar said she would sponsor a bill imposing tariffs on rice imports in place of quotas, which is expected to bring down the staple&#x27;s prices and tame inflation.</p><p>The House of Representatives earlier this month approved the measure that was certified urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte during his third State of the Nation Address.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/24/18/neda-renews-call-for-rice-tariff-land-use-bills">NEDA renews call for rice tariff, land use bills</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/08/08/18/dissecting-data-how-rice-tariffication-more-rice-imports-affect-prices">Dissecting Data: How rice tariffication, more rice imports affect prices</a></li></ul><p>Villar said she would push for a provision that would set up a P10-billion fund to help farmers become more competitive in mechanization and choosing better seeds.</p><p>If the bill is approved, it will be up to the Department of Finance to determine whether or not the NFA will still be necessary, she added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/27/18/agri-chief-shields-nfa-from-abolition-calls">Agri chief shields NFA from abolition calls</a></li></ul>

<p>The agency faced abolition calls last week after a rice shortage forced a state of calamity in Zamboanga City while some 130,000 sacks of government-subsidized rice was found infested with "bukbok" or weevils in Subic Bay.</p>

The agency faced abolition calls last week after a rice shortage forced a state of calamity in Zamboanga City while some 130,000 sacks of government-subsidized rice was found infested with "bukbok" or weevils in Subic Bay.