NFA warns grains businessmen vs violations
By Rachelle M. Nessia
Dumaguete City (19 October) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) here has monitored a total of 18 violations by erring grains businessmen in the province as of September this year.
NFA Information Officer Rolando Lazalita disclosed that the violations include no NFA license (3), retailers without signboard (3), no rice box (3), unauthorized possession of NFA rice (3), and retailers who refused to sell NFA rice (6).
Lazalita said NFA has already served summons to the violators who are expected to show up at the NFA office to settle the said violations.
"These violators will come to NFA and we expect that they will pay the corresponding penalties of their violations," said Lazalita.
Should the violators refuse to pay the penalties, "kasuhan namo sila or amo kanselahun ilang lisensya (we will either file charges against them or cancel their license)", he added.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap has recently ordered NFA to intensify its monitoring and distribution of government rice, with specific orders for the food agency to keep close watch over the price of the staple in the markets nationwide.
The monitoring is hoped to put an end to illegal activities being committed by some erring grains businessmen nationwide.
The move is also the government's pro-active effort to combat the possible increase in the consumption of rice that may result from the shift from bread consumption following the increasing trend of wheat prices in the world markets. [top]
