BY JOCELYN
MONTEMAYOR
A DAY after the National Food
Authority said it was eyeing an increase in the price of
government-subsidized rice, President Arroyo yesterday
announced she was considering pulling out the P18.25 NFA
rice from public markets and selling this instead in
non-traditional outlets like churches and mosques.
This will deter hoarding and
diversion of NFA rice, she told the Local Peace and
Security Assembly in Bangued in Abra.
She said NFA rice, because of its
good quality, passes as commercial rice. Erring NFA
officials in connivance with unscrupulous traders divert
the NFA rice and sell it at a higher price as a
commercial grade grain, she said, adding government has
caught some of these NFA employees.
