Piñol made the statement in the wake of the reported shortage in supply of National Food Authority (NFA) rice in the country. “If we continue to allow that pricing system, rice would be out of reach of ordinary consumers,” Piñol said on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENTThe NFA is mandated to determine the rice importation program, including placing caps on imports to ensure fair trade. Sen. Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food, earlier clarified that there was no shortage in commercial rice in the country and only the supply of NFA rice was dwindling. We have an abundant rice supply, but this is not felt in the market,” he said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 11, 2018 04:45 UTC