NFA assures damaged rice not sold in the market
The National Food Authority (NFA) has assured the public that the rice stocks inside their warehouse in Jaro that was soaked in flood waters during typhoon Frank are not being distributed and sold in the markets. As to date, NFA has disposed 90,000 bags of damaged rice.
NFA Provincial Manager Hedy Jardeleza said the damaged rice stocks withdrawn from their warehouse were bought by three accredited organic fertilizer manufacturers.
Jardeleza identified the accredited organic manufacturers as Rodolfo Pama of Zarraga Farmers Organics Fertilizer; Rodolfo Torreda of DTP compost and Evans farm in Cebu.
She said the accredited organic fertilizer manufacturers will not destroy their name just to earn money out of the damaged rice stocks they bought from the agency. They have long been recognized as organic fertilizer manufacturers, Jardeleza added.
Jardeleza's assurance came in response to the information that the damaged NFA rice is being distributed in the market. The damaged rice is allegedly washed and mixed with the regular milled rice and sold in the market.
The NFA is also asking for the cooperation of those who have first hand information on the alleged distribution of spoiled rice in the market to immediately report to them.
Jardeleza clarified that the remaining sacks of rice piled in between the 9 and 10thlayers inside the warehouse are still submitted for laboratory test.
Apart from the organic fertilizer manufacturers, the agency is also receiving orders from the fishpond owners. The damaged rice will generate the formation of algae being eaten by fishes, said Jardeleza.
Meanwhile, NFA is moving fast to dispose the remaining damaged rice stocks to eliminate the bad smell in the NFA compound and its neighboring barangays. The agency wants to dispose all the water-soaked rice as soon as possible, said Jardeleza.