By Marisol Bo-oc, Helen Castano | 09:55 PM November 28, 2020
The National Food Authority (NFA)-Bohol has assured the public that their rice is free from foul odor and “bukbok” (weevils) after displaced tourism workers in Loboc town received spoiled rice in a relief assistance distribution from the provincial government of Bohol.
NFA-Bohol Maria Fe H. Evasco clarified that all of NFA Bohol’s rice stocks currently stored in the warehouses are of “good quality with no off-odor and free from any form of pest infestation.”
Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan said the local government received bad quality rice stocks intended as food packs for affected workers in the tourism industry.
“We only release good quality rice stocks. The office/local government unit representative witnesses not only the weighing of the rice stocks but also signs and affirms that they received the same in good quality and condition,” said Evasco.
Evasco stressed that the agency strictly adheres to the international standards on good warehousekeeping practices to ensure that all stocks distributed through local governments units, Department of Social Welfare and Development,
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine National Police and other relief institutions are good quality locally procured well-milled rice.
The agency conducts daily monitoring of the rice market situation and has not found any adulterated or unusual rice stocks in any of the markets covered.
In addition, NFA Bohol has intensified its palay procurement operations to beef up the province’s bufferstock as part of its new mandate under RA 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.
Calipusan, who personally inspected the packs, said all the beneficiaries couldn’t stand the smell of it and they also refused to cook it.
He added that 180 packs of rice were left at the Loboc Tourism Building after tourism workers refused to claim them.
