NFA steps up monitoring of rice prices, supply nationwide

NFA Administrator Jason LY. Aquino said Thursday the agency is stepping up its rice monitoring activities to protect the consumers from unscrupulous traders, especially in areas affected by the recent flooding caused by monsoon rains and Typhoon Karding. (File photo: National Food Authority)

MANILA — The National Food Authority is deploying monitoring teams in public markets and even in the communities to ensure that NFA accredited retail outlets are selling rice at prices prescribed by the government and are compliant with trading rules and regulations.

NFA Administrator Jason LY. Aquino said Thursday the agency is stepping up its rice monitoring activities to protect the consumers from unscrupulous traders, especially in areas affected by the recent flooding caused by monsoon rains and Typhoon Karding.

Aquino said the rice monitoring also covers the price and supply flow of commercial rice.

He said he had authorized the monitoring teams to conduct inspection in rice mills and private warehouses to make sure there is no rice hoarding.

He said the NFA is mandated to stabilize the supply and prices of the staple, especially in stricken areas as a result of a natural or man-made calamity or emergency.

“We are urging the public to report to us any anomalous observations against erring businessmen through our NFA Kontra Abuso hotline 0927-871-5921 and Hotline 8888, so we could immediately act on their complaints,” Aquino said. “So far, we have already received more than 300 complaints nationwide through these platforms, which we have verified and acted upon.”

Most of the complaints received by the NFA were over-pricing of NFA rice, non-availability, diversion, alleged re-bagging, and mixing.