NFA

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Bilhin ang ‘Storm Damaged Palay’

Sen. Bam Aquino urged President Duterte to order the National Food Authority (NFA) to purchase Storm-Damaged Palay (SDP) from farmers in areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong as a way to help them and the families get back on their feet.

“Sana po tugunan ng Pangulo ang hinaing ng mga magsasaka at kanilang mga pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the farmers who have failed to harvest their crops before the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

“Utusan sana niya ang NFA na bilhin ang SDP. Tulungan natin ang mga kababayan nating magsasaka,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the move will give farmers a chance to recoup their capital used for purchasing rice seeds, fertilizer and other inputs.

The senator said buying SDP is not new to the NFA since the agency has done it in the past. However, the price is dependent on the quality specification, such as moisture content, purity, discolored and damaged grains.

Sen. Bam said the government can use the President’s Social Fund or the Calamity Fund, which are both under the Office of the President, to fund the initiative.

“Unahin sana ng administrasyon ang mga nasasagasaan at napipinsala. Masyado nang maraming Pilipino ang nalulunod sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam also urged the government to work together to mitigate the effects of Typhoon Ompong on the prices of goods in affected areas.

As one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Sen. Bam has been working to lessen the effects of the government’s tax reform program in the prices of goods and services.

The senator filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam stressed the need to enact his measure into law, saying it will stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam to NFA: Paghandaan ang bagyo, bumawi sa taumbayan

The National Food Authority (NFA) will have a chance to redeem itself by ensuring the sufficient supply of rice in areas that are expected to be hit by typhoon Ompong, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 

“Tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan at siguruhing hindi magugutom ang mga nasalanta,” said Sen. Bam. 

“Dapat nang bumawi ng NFA sa kapalpakan ng kanilang administrador. This is an opportunity for NFA to step up in serving our countrymen,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the blunders of NFA administrator Jason Aquino that affected the supply of affordable rice in the market.

President Duterte is looking for Jason Aquino’s replacement after he asked to be relieved from his post.

Sen. Bam said the NFA must ensure that there is enough stock of rice in warehouses located in areas that will be affected by the typhoon. 

“Gamitin ang teknolohiya at mga harvester para tulungan ang mga magsasaka. Buksan ang mga warehouse sa mga magsasakang kailangang protektahan ang kanilang ani,” said Sen. Bam. 

Super typhoon Mangkhut, which will be known as Ompong when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, is expected to pack 200 to 220 kilometers per hour of wind. It is expected to pass through Cagayan province, Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands before heading to Taiwan. 

On Monday, Sen. Bam delivered a sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1211 or the Philippine Space Act as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 

Sen. Bam said the measure, if enacted into law, can strengthen the country’s mitigation and response to natural calamities and disasters. 

The measure is aimed at beefing up existing government programs on disaster prevention, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s disaster risk management, PAGASA’s astronomical science programs and National Mapping & Resource Information Agency’s satellite information gathering.

Kiko, Bam call for accountability in Zambo rice crisis, 8-month upward streak in rice prices in PH

Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino have called for an inquiry in aid of legislation on the rice crisis in Zamboanga City and the eight-month hike in rice prices in the country.
 
In Proposed Senate Resolution 868 filed by the two senators Tuesday evening, Senators Pangilinan and Aquino noted that the National Food Authority (NFA) “must be held accountable and must see to it that cheap and quality rice is available in the market.”
 
They said the NFA “must explain the said shortage, the alleged hoarding, and how the situation in Zamboanga City reached calamity level.”
 
Senators Pangilinan and Aquino said the public must be informed of how NFA is trying to solve the crisis situation so that “unscrupulous traders and other influential forces in and out of government are not able to manipulate the procurement process and the availability of rice stocks.”
 
Aside from Zamboanga City, Isabela City in Basilan was also placed under a state of calamity for 60 days also due to rice scarcity, they added. 
 
The rice crisis is not limited to Zamboanga City, where prices reached P70 per kilo, as the Philippine Statistics Authority reported “an upward streak” for rice prices “for eight months now.” 
 
Citing PSA figures, the senators noted the following year-on-year increases on:
 
* average wholesale price of well-milled rice at P43.18 per kilo, or 10 percent higher 
 
* average retail price of well-milled rice at P45.71 per kilo, or 9 percent higher 
 
* average wholesale price of regular-milled rice at P40.08 per kilo, or 13 percent higher 
 
* average retail price of regular-milled rice at P42.26 per kilo, or 11 percent higher 
 
Pangilinan was Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization during the Aquino administration, and rice supply and prices were kept stable even during the dry season brought by the El Nino phenomenon. 
 
An anti-TRAIN advocate, Aquino has also filed Senate Bill 1798, or Bawas Presyo Bill to lower the prices of goods in the market. The measure seeks to suspend excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law when prices increase above government targets.

Sen. Bam: Sack and replace NFA Admin, first step to solve rice crisis

While Bawas Presyo Bill can help reduce price of rice, Sen. Bam Aquino insisted that the root cause of the rice crisis is gross mismanagement of the National Food Authority (NFA). 

“Makakatulong ang Bawas Presyo Bill sa pagpapababa ng presyo ng bilihin, pati ang bigas ngunit ang puno’t dulo ng krisis sa bigas ay ang kapalpakan ng NFA. Dapat nang palitan ng Pangulo ang namumuno sa kapalpakan na si NFA administrator,” said Sen. Bam, who recently filed Senate Resolution 868 with Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan to investigate the rice crisis in Zamboanga City. 

“Kung hindi tatanggalin sa puwesto si Jason Aquino, sana tamaan siya ng hiya at magbitiw na lang para umayos na ang takbo ng NFA at mabawasan ang nagugutom na pamilya sa bansa,” emphasized Sen. Bam, adding that the rice crisis will not be solved if the NFA administrator remains in his post. 

Sen. Bam slammed the NFA’s failure to provide poor Filipinos with enough supply of affordable rice despite the importation of around 500,000 metric tons of rice. 

“Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin maramdaman ang epekto ng ibinibida ng NFA na magkakaroon ng sapat na supply ng murang bigas sa merkado,” said Sen. Bam. 

Also, Sen. Bam said the NFA has yet to fulfil its promise that importation will lower the price of commercial rice in the market, stressing that the price of rice has increased for the eighth straight month, per a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 

“Kung hindi nila magawa ang kanilang tungkulin, wala silang karapatang manatili pa sa puwesto ng kahit isang segundo,” said Sen. Bam, who recently filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill as means to lower the prices of goods in the market. 

Sen. Bam’s measure seeks to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam to NFA Administrator: Mahiya ka naman, mag-resign ka na

Sen. Bam Aquino questioned the government’s failure to lower the prices of rice in the market despite its promise that rice importation will solve the problem. 

“Sino na ba ang nagmamando sa bansa? Itong malaking krisis sa bigas, hindi man lang masolusyunan,” questioned Sen. Bam. 

“Nag-import sila para maresolba ang problema pero mukhang lumala pa ngayon ang sitwasyon at nauwi sa rice crisis sa Zamboanga City,” added Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam’s pronouncement came in the light of Zamboanga City’s plan to declare a state of calamity due to rice shortage. Prices of rice in the city went up to a high as P68 per kilo, with the lowest being sold at P55 per kilo. 

Earlier, the government approved the importation of 500,000 metric tons of rice to address the lack of supply of affordable NFA rice in the market.  

“Saan napunta ang ipinagmamalaking inangkat ng National Food Authority (NFA) para mapababa ang presyo ng bigas sa mga palengke?” asked Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam expressed fear that the imported NFA rice could land in the hands of traders who will sell it for a higher price, putting more burden on the shoulder of poor Filipinos. 

Sen. Bam renewed his call for the resignation of some NFA officials, led by its administrator Jason Aquino, for their failure to address the problem of lack of supply of affordable rice in the market.

“Mahiya naman sila sa taumbayan at mag-resign na. Dahil sa kanilang kapalpakan, nalulunod ang mga pamilyang Pilipino sa taas ng presyo ng bigas,” said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the NFA administrator to quit his post due to the agency’s failure to fulfil the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year, beginning March 2017. 

Sen. Bam: NFA still prone to mismanagement, corruption

What about the corruption allegations surrounding National Food Authority administrator Jason Aquino?

Sen. Bam Aquino said the government should look into allegations against Aquino rather than entrust him with the task of importing thousands of metric tons of rice.

“Dahil sa kanyang kapalpakan, tumaas ang presyo ng bigas at nadagdagan ang pasan ng pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, who earlier called for the resignation of the NFA administrator.

”Ano na ba ang nangyari sa mga alegasyon laban sa pamunuan ng NFA? Ngayong may dumating na bigas, baka maulit lang ang nangyari at maubos na naman agad ang buffer stock sa kamay ng mga traders,” added Sen. Bam.

During a Senate hearing on the rice issue, Jason Aquino admitted that the agency failed to comply with required 15-day buffer stock since last year. 

 Sen. Bam said this drove the prices of commercial rice up, burdening poor Filipino families further.

“Nangyari ito dahil sa kapabayaan ng NFA sa kanilang tungkulin, at hindi dahil sa NFA Council,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the President’s removal of the powers of NFA Council chairman and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. was unnecessary and leaves the NFA even more prone to corruption and impunity.

“Bakit sinisisi si Evasco na ang tanging gusto lang ay hindi mahaluan ng katiwalian ang proseso ng pag-aangkat ng bigas,” said Sen. Bam. 

Evasco was pushing for a government-to-private mode of procurement to make the process more transparent while Aquino wanted a government-to-government mode, which is prone to corruption.

 

Sen. Bam: Gov’t must act quickly to address high prices of rice

Senator Bam Aquino insisted that the government should do more than give assurance that there’s enough supply of rice in the market, saying it should also quickly address the rising prices of commercial rice and the lack of NFA Rice in the market.

“Hindi sapat ang katiyakan na mayroong supply ng bigas sa merkado. Kailangang kumilos ang pamahalaan para mapababa ang presyo ng commercial rice at tiyaking may supply ng murang NFA Rice na mabibili ang mga pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

“May mga kababayan tayo na kanin na nga lang ang kinakain, tapos nagmahal pa ang bigas. Saan pa sila pupunta,” added Sen. Bam, insisting that the government should conduct an audit of the 2017 buffer stock to determine what happened to it.

 “Dapat tiyakin ng pamahalaan na natutupad ang itinakdang 15-day buffer stock ng murang bigas upang matiyak na mayroong mabibiling abot-kayang bigas ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mahihirap,” Sen. Bam said.

During a Senate hearing on the rice issue, National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Jason Aquino admitted that the agency has failed to comply with the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year, prompting Sen. Bam to call for his resignation.

“Hinahayaan lang ng NFA na lumaki ang problema na dulot ng kanilang kapalpakan. Dapat lang na palitan na ang NFA administrator at magtakda ng bagong pinuno na may kakayahang solusyunan ito,” Sen. Bam said.

On Monday, Sen. Bam renewed his call for the NFA administrator’s resignation following reports that the NFA’s rice reserve was already depleted.

Sen. Bam said situation has forced Filipino families to spend more for rice as they have no other option but to buy costly commercial rice.

 “Ang 35 pesos per kilo ng bigas noon, 45 pesos na ngayon. Limandaang piso ang dagdag nito sa gastusin ng pamilyang Pilipino kada buwan kung isang kilong bigas ang kanilang nakokonsumo bawat araw. Nangyari ito dahil sa kapabayaan ng NFA sa kanilang tungkulin,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam expects surge in price of rice, renews call to replace NFA administrator

Sen. Bam Aquino renewed his call for the resignation of top National Food Authority (NFA) officials for their incompetence that led to the total depletion of its rice reserve in the market, forcing Filipino families to settle for costly rice in the market.

“Lalong tataas ang presyo ng bigas ngayong ubos na ang stock ng NFA Rice. Napipilitan nang magbawas ng kanin ang mga karaniwang Pilipino, at posibleng isang beses kada araw na lang ang paghain nila ng kanin para sa pamilya,” Sen. Bam said in reaction to reports that the NFA’s rice reserve is completely gone.

“Hinahayaan lang ng NFA na lumaki ang problema na dulot ng kanilang kapalpakan. Dapat lang na palitan na ang NFA administrator at magtakda ng bagong pinuno na may kakayahang solusyunan ito,” added Sen. Bam.

 During a Senate hearing on the NFA rice problem, NFA administrator Jason Aquino admitted that the agency has failed to comply with the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year. This inefficiency resulted in the increase in prices of rice, forcing Filipino families to spend more for their staple food.

“Ang 35 pesos per kilo ng bigas noon, 45 pesos na ngayon. Limandaang piso ang dagdag nito sa gastusin ng pamilyang Pilipino kada buwan kung isang kilong bigas ang kanilang nakokonsumo bawat araw. Nangyari ito dahil sa kapabayaan ng NFA sa kanilang tungkulin,” said Sen. Bam. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the NFA and the NFA Council to iron out their differences and address the lack of supply of NFA Rice in the market so as to spare the public from high prices of rice in the market.

Sen. Bam to gov’t agencies: Don’t make poor Filipinos wait further for affordable rice

The National Food Authority (NFA) and other concerned government agencies should get their acts together swiftly to normalize the supply of affordable rice in the market for poor Filipinos, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ang problemang ito, hindi na puwedeng maghintay at ito ang pakiramdam ng maraming Pilipino. At the soonest possible time, dapat magkaroon na ng mas murang bigas sa merkado,” said Sen. Bam during an urban poor sector meeting in Tondo, Manila together with Vice President Leni Robredo.

“Iyong papahintayin mo ang kapwa Pilipino na tatlong buwan, anim na buwan, hindi na acceptable iyon kasi isang taon na po itong mismanagement na nangyayari,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the NFA’s failure to meet the 15-day buffer stock for NFA Rice since March of last year.

Sen. Bam said the NFA and the NFA Council should iron out their differences and address the lack of supply of NFA Rice in the market so as to spare the public from high prices of rice in the market.

“Sila ang nag-aaway pero tayo ang nagkakaproblema. Sana magkasundo na at nang maaral ang pinaka-mainam na paraan sa lalong madaling panahon upang mabigyan na ng murang bigas ang ating mahihirap na kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said poor families have to spend an additional P500 a month as they have no other option but to purchase commercial rice, due to lack of NFA Rice in the market. 

“Batay sa pag-aaral, 20 porsiyento ng gastos ng pamilyang Pilipino ay napupunta sa bigas kaya mahalagang magkaroon na ng solusyon dito. Kaya babantayan natin ito hanggang magkaroon na sila ng solusyon dito,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam, who has been actively participating in the Senate hearing on issues hounding the NFA, called for the resignation of NFA administrator Jason Aquino for his failure to ensure the supply of NFA Rice for poor Filipinos.

“Maglagay tayo ng tao na kayang gawin ang mandato ng NFA, at iyong ang pagkakaroon ng murang bigas sa merkado at hindi gagawa ng kung anu-anong rason,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam calls for resignation of NFA officials in light of rice fiasco

Senator Bam Aquino has called for the resignation of National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Jason Aquino and top officials, saying that they have failed to ensure food security for the Filipino people, especially the poor.

“We are talking about food security for the poorest Filipino families. We need someone who can get the job done,” said Sen. Bam after attending the hearing of the Committee on Agriculture and Food on the issue of NFA rice.

During the hearing, Sen. Bam stressed that poor Filipinos will have to spend P500 more a month for rice until June due to the NFA’s failure to ensure the supply of affordable NFA Rice in the market.

”Ang 27 pesos per kilo ng bigas noon ay 42 pesos na. Limandaang piso ang dagdag nito sa gastusin ng pamilyang Pilipino kada buwan kung isang kilong bigas ang kanilang nakokonsumo bawat araw. Nangyari ito dahil nabigo ang NFA na mapanatili ang mandated 15-day buffer stock,” said Sen. Bam.

During Sen. Bam’s questioning, the NFA administrator admitted that the agency has failed to comply with the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year. With no lower-priced rice available in the market, prices of rice skyrocketed, making the expensive variety the only available option for Filipinos. 

Worse, the NFA administrator admitted the country’s current buffer stock for NFA rice is just 1.7 days, much to the dismay of Sen. Bam and the other Senators present. 

“Dahil sa kapalpakan ng NFA, tumataas ang presyo ng bigas. Isang taon nilang pinayagan na bumaba ang buffer stock natin at nagdulot ito ng pagtaas ng presyo sa merkado,” said Sen. Bam.

The NFA said it expects the imported rice to arrive in June, leaving poor Filipinos with no choice but to settle for rice with prices ranging from P42 to P45 per kilo in the succeeding months. 

“May tatlong pang buwan magdurusa ang ating mga kababayan sa bigas na kuwarenta pataas ang halaga dahil hindi nagawa ng NFA ang trabaho nila,” said Sen. Bam.

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