DA to file charges vs traders, rice smugglers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to file charges against rice traders and smugglers who have engaged in activities that caused an artificial spike in the price of rice.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told reporters at the Senate that the DA has started investigating the source of reports about a supposed shortage of rice as well as the bogus text messages about free NFA (National Food Authority) rice being given away at the Commonwealth market in Quezon City and Rizal market last week.

Alcala said he has asked the DA’s legal team to study the possibility of filing charges of economic sabotage against the perpetrators.

He said the ploy of some groups is to create an artificial shortage of rice, possibly by hoarding, so that the price in the market would go up.

“We are checking on this and we will go after them. This is something that should not be happening,” the DA chief added.

Alcala also assured the public that domestic supply of rice is sufficient and this can be seen in all 28 warehouses operated by the NFA in Metro Manila.

While the practice of creating an artificial shortage of rice would point to rice traders as the culprits, Alcala said he is avoiding such a generalization. He did not discount the possibility that rice smugglers may be behind the hike in prices.

“It’s possible because they were hit hard by the tighter rules introduced by the NFA in the importation of rice, so a lot of them are angry,” Alcala added. – With Paolo Romero, Ric Sapnu