National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Roderico Bioco has been selling, since 2023, old but still edible rice stocks to private traders even as the NFA itself is still grappling for rice stocks to fulfill its mandated buffer stocking for emergencies and calamities.
With current local palay farmgate prices still high (owing to rising world prices for the grain amid limited supply from El Nino) the agency has been lobbying hard to be able to import its own stocks, by all means.
The anomalous sale (as they were not approved by the Council) of old but edible rice stocks by Bioco was reported to the NFA Governing Council– composed of Cabinet members and the President as its chair– and a copy of said complaint was received and logged in the Office of the President.
Assistant Administrator for Operations Engr. Lemuel Pagayunan reported at least four (consummated and paid) sales of such stocks based on the following documents: 1). AO 2024-01–042 dated January 31, 2024 issued to Region 4 Regional Manager Alwin Uy of 25,000 bags worth P31.25 million to G4 Rice Mill Corp ()received by Ma. Lourdes F. Reyes) with OR #0491860 dated January 29, 2024; 2) AO2024-01-043 of Januaryt 31, 2024 issued to R4 Regional Manager Alwin Uy for 17,500 bags worth P31.25 million received and paid for by G4 Rice Mills San Manuel Corp (received by Lemuel C. Lunar with ORNo. 0491861 on January 29, 2024; 3) another 7,500 bags issued to NCR Regional Manager Maria Lewina Tolentino; and 4) AO2024-01-044 of January 31, 2024 issued to Region 4 Regional Manager Alwin Uy for 25,000 bags worth P31.25 million sold to NBK San Pedro Rice Mill and received by Anna Marie delos Santos with OR No. 0491862 dated January 29, 2024.
Pagayunan said similar dispositions of stocks were done in 2023.
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