NFA creates team to inspect grain sellers

CEBU, Philippines - The National Food Authority – 7 has created a special team that would monitor stores selling grains in Region-7 following earlier reports of proliferation of synthetic and fake rice in the country.

“This activity (inspecting and monitoring of all grains establishments) will be conducted in coordination with the team from the Department of Agriculture, Region VII,” reads the letter of NFA Regional Director Raul Chong to the Cebu City Council.

“The team is hereby ordered to conduct thorough and massive inspection and monitoring of private warehouses and establishments storing/selling rice and other grains commodities in the Province of Cebu,” Chong said of the three-man team he created.

 The team is composed of NFA’s supervising enforcement and investigation officer, senior enforcement and investigation officers, and the regional standard quality assurance officer.

Chong said NFA will submit results of its inspection to the Council.

It was the council that passed a resolution asking NFA and DA to conduct massive inspection of warehouses in the city following reports of alleged proliferation of fake rice in some areas in Davao City.

Councilor Alvin Dizon authored the resolution.

“This synthetic rice is made from synthetic plastic while fake rice is derived from potatoes, sweet potatoes and even resin,” Dizon said, adding that the legislative body has the mandate to protect and promote the right to health to its constituents.

He said the public should be vigilant against the fake and synthetic rice in the local market.  (FREEMAN)