NFA completes disposal of damaged rice
After more than one month, the National Food Authority (NFA)wrapped up the disposal of damaged rice stocks and clean up operations in their two warehouses.
NFA Provincial Manager Hedy Jardeleza said they completed disposing the damaged rice stocks estimated to reach 200,000 bags and cleaning of their Jaro Triplex and Kabsaka warehouses last Saturday.
NFA has completed the disposal and clean up operations way ahead of the deadline it set which is August 15, 2008.
Jardeleza said they are about to finish the washing of their wooden pallets. The wooden pallets which are placed on the floor before the sacks of rice are being piled is one of the sources of the foul odor.
She added there is no more foul odor coming from the two warehouses. Earlier, the agency applied chemical odor buster and lime in areas which are sources of strong foul odor like compost pit, drainage canal and surrounding grounds. This is to address the contamination of leachate from the damaged rice stocks.
Jardeleza also allayed the fears of nearby community of a contamination of their water sources such as deep well. The damaged rice stocks did not contain toxic elements that may cause seepage in the water sources.
The damaged rice stocks are either buried in the NFA grounds or sold to organic fertilizer manufacturers. As to date, the agency could not yet give full details on how many sacks of damaged rice stocks were dumped and how many are sold as ingredient for organic fertilizer.
The agency was able to address all the concerns of the residents with the help of the different national agencies like Department of Health and Department of Environment and Natural Resources after the damaged rice stocks caused bad smell, said Jardeleza.
Prior to the final clearing and disposal of damaged imported rice stocks, residents near the NFA compound complained of different respiratory ailments because of the foul smell coming from the damaged rice.