NFA withholds release of 20,000 bags corn grains
BACOLOD CITY – The National Food Authority (NFA) provincial office has withheld the release of 20,000 bags of corn grains worth almost P15 million pending the presentation of documents by the consignee.
NFA provincial head Pablito Gemarino said there are documents which need to be presented prior to the release of the shipment.
The document produced so far revealed that the shipment came from General Santos City.
Gemarino tasked NFA Investigator Pepe Laceda to answer media or public queries regarding the issue.
In an interview with Laceda he said that they already talked to the consignee named Juanito Gamboa.
Laceda said Gamboa confirmed that they only received the shipment from PG & Sons from General Santos City.
Through telephone, Laceda coordinated with NFA General Santos requesting to conduct an investigation regarding the entry of the corn grains at the Bredco port here.
NFA Bacolod will wait for the outcome of the investigation in NFA General Santos and for the meantime, the goods will be “held” for safekeeping.
Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco said it is right to determine whether the entry of the said shipment is legal or smuggled.
“The Bureau of Customs, National Food Authority and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist are looking into it and making sure that the shipment will not be damaging to local corn producers,” he added.
Zayco received reports that the shipment came from Zamboanga and may have originated from Thailand or Indonesia.
Until there are no legal papers presented and everything is in order, the shipment will not be allowed out of the warehouse, he said.
He also admits that the hog and poultry raisers in the province have been complaining of lack of corn feeds but he said it is necessary to determine the legality of the shipment first.