Sen. Bam: NFA still prone to mismanagement, corruption

What about the corruption allegations surrounding National Food Authority administrator Jason Aquino?

Sen. Bam Aquino said the government should look into allegations against Aquino rather than entrust him with the task of importing thousands of metric tons of rice.

"Dahil sa kanyang kapalpakan, tumaas ang presyo ng bigas at nadagdagan ang pasan ng pamilyang Pilipino," said Sen. Bam, who earlier called for the resignation of the NFA administrator.

"Ano na ba ang nangyari sa mga alegasyon laban sa pamunuan ng NFA? Ngayong may dumating na bigas, baka maulit lang ang nangyari at maubos na naman agad ang buffer stock sa kamay ng mga traders," added Sen. Bam.

During a Senate hearing on the rice issue, Jason Aquino admitted that the agency failed to comply with required 15-day buffer stock since last year.

Sen. Bam said this drove the prices of commercial rice up, burdening poor Filipino families further.

"Nangyari ito dahil sa kapabayaan ng NFA sa kanilang tungkulin, at hindi dahil sa NFA Council," said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the President's removal of the powers of NFA Council chairman and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. was unnecessary and leaves the NFA even more prone to corruption and impunity.

"Bakit sinisisi si Evasco na ang tanging gusto lang ay hindi mahaluan ng katiwalian ang proseso ng pag-aangkat ng bigas," said Sen. Bam.

Evasco was pushing for a government-to-private mode of procurement to make the process more transparent while Aquino wanted a government-to-government mode, which is prone to corruption.