Senator Joel Villanueva rated Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol’s performance as “terrible” after the latter suggested legalizing rice smuggling in some parts of Mindanao. “With the statements that he made last night, I think it’s terrible,” Villanueva said when asked in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday to rate Piñol’s performance. The senator also expressed disbelief that Piñol himself suggested to legalize rice smuggling to address the problem in the Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi or Zambasulta area. You just have to be careful about it,” said Villanueva, who previously headed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. The senator also minced no words in expressing his dismay at the performance of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 30, 2018 03:22 UTC