NFA grilled on permit issued to farmers’ coop linked to rice smuggling

Officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) were grilled at a Senate hearing on Monday over the decision to issue an import permit to a farmers’ cooperative allegedly linked to rice smuggling.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto questioned why the San Carlos Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SACAMUCO) was given an import permit by even after the Bureau of Customs tagged it as one of the consignees involved in illegal rice trade.   “Sa madaling salita, hindi niyo ginagawa ang trabaho niyo… Ang lumalabas dito, parang napapalusutan ang NFA,” Recto told NFA officials present at the hearing.