Bam, Kiko want Senate to probe rice crisis

MANILA, Philippines — Sens. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV sought for an inquiry into the rice crisis in Zamboanga and the rising prices of the Filipino staple food.

In filing Senate Resolution 868 Tuesday night, Pangilinan and Aquino stressed that the National Food Authority should explain the rice shortage, the alleged hoarding and the situation in Zamboanga City.

The city—where rice prices have reached P70 per kilogram—was placed under a state of calamity last August 20. State of calamity has been also declared in Isabela City in Basilan due to rice scarcity.

“The NFA must also be held accountable and must see to it that cheap and quality rice is available in the market,” Pangilinan and Aquino said.

The minority senators added: “The public must be informed of the necessary steps taken by the NFA to solve the matter and be ensured that a crisis of such degree will not happen again in the city or in any part of the country and that unscrupulous traders and other influential forces in and out of government are not able to manipulate the procurement process and availability of rice stocks.”

Sack NFA admin

Aquino reiterated his call to fire NFA administrator Jason Aquino.

“The root cause of the rice crisis is the failure of NFA. The president should replace the NFA administrator,” he said.

Aquino said that the rice crisis will not be addressed if the NFA administrator remains in his post.

“If President Rodrigo Duterte will not fire him, the NFA administrator should feels ashamed and step down so the agency will function well and there will be a decline in the number of hungry Filipinos,” the senator said.