NFA – Capiz suspends 24 ‘Tindahan’ operators
Roxas City – Twenty-four Tindahan Natin (TN) operators in the province have been suspended indefinitely by the National Food Authority (NFA) – Provincial Office in Capiz for over pricing government rice in the market.
“These outlets were suspended indefinitely by the NFA for generally selling the rice from P19.00 to P29.00 per kilogram,” said an NFA – Capiz news release.
The penalty was meted out following a visitation and inspection by the audit team to all 60 TN operators in the province as part of the NFA’s countrywide “one-strike policy” on erring grains businessmen.
The policy defines that any NFA accredited retailer found to be violating industry laws, rules and regulations shall be immediately suspended.
“The number of those suspended could still increase as others summoned are still to submit their explanations under oath,” the release noted.
Over pricing of government rice is a violation of Presidential Decree No. 4 as amended and the Deeds Of Undertaking (DOU) entered into by TN operators and the NFA.
TN is a program of President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and NFA that is intended to serve the poorest of the poor in the communities by providing alternative outlets selling highly subsidized rice.
The government buys the rice at about P35.00 per kilogram and is sold to TN operators at P16.75 per kilogram for a retail price of P18.25 per kilogram to their respective beneficiaries. (NFA/PIA/A.Lumaque)
