DAVAO CITY ( September 2) — Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Saturday offered P250,000 reward to anyone who could provide information that would result in arrest of rice hoarders.’
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that Piñol made the announcement during the launching of a joint campaign against rice hoarding, in a bid to help ease the country’s rice woes.
The “Report a Hoarder” campaign offers a PHP250,000-reward to “citizens who could provide information that would result in arrest of rice hoarders,” Piñol reportedly announced.
“In launching the campaign, DA and NFA expect traders to release their stocks and stabilize prices,” he said in a Facebook post. “Identity of informants will be held in strict confidentiality.”
The reward system came amidst the call of several lawmakers for Piñol to resign due to the issue on rice shortage and Bukbok infestation in the recently delivered NFA rice.
Piñol however clarified, “Perhaps, our dear legislators do not realize that the NFA is NOT under the Department of Agriculture.”
NFA administrator Jason Aquino claimed they have stepped up their monitoring system to protect the consumers against businessmen who may take advantage of the rice situation.
According to Piñol rice industry stakeholders support their “Report a Hoarder” campaign and the reward money will be provided by private millers and traders whose business are affected by the hoarders.
Piñol said those who have information could contact the DA through these numbers:
(02) 920-9117 – Office of the Secretary, DA
0928-611-5555 – DZRH Textline
(02) 8326166; 8326167; 8326117 – DZRH
Until now, residents of Zamboanga Peninsula have been complaining of the high prices of rice which reached P50 to P70 per kilo. Congressman Celso Climaco earlier said the high prices of rice is an offshoot of rice shortage but the DA and NFA denied there is a shortage.
Zamboanga City Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and the local government earlier a resolution setting the price ceiling of rice at P42 per kilo, down from its current average price of P50 to P70.
But until now, some unscrupulous rice traders are still selling at P70 per kilo.-ezc/NewsLine.ph
