MANILA, Philippines – A group of former finance secretaries and economists has supported calls to abolish the National Food Authority (NFA) after its failure to address dwindling rice supply which increased market prices and hit the poor. Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Cynthia Villar have both called for the NFA's dissolution after rice prices continue to spike months after it reported that its buffer rice stock has been depleted. Rice prices rose as a result after the poor shifted to buy more expensive commercial rice. "The private sector should be free to import rice from any source in whatever quantities the market needs. This is the only solution to the current rice shortage crisis and to the pervasive malnutrition caused by high food prices," FEF said.

Source: Philippine Star August 30, 2018 12:00 UTC