NFA, CIDG, NBI to curb any rice hoarding, smuggling, etc

The government on its effort to stabilize the prices of basic commodities nationwide is now on focus to the nation’s staple food–rice.

To realize the idea of stabilizing prices, especially that of the basic commodities, three government agencies in Ilocos Norte, namely, the National Food Authority (NFA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) had joined forces for the purpose of monitoring NFA rice.

They are tasked to coordinate with each other to assure that NFA rice is being sold at its suggested retail price (SRP), not being re-bagged and sold as commercial rice, so that the consuming public especially the ordinary ones, will truly be benefited and that price stabilization will be achieved.

As initial step, NFA Provincial Manager Beverly P. Peralta and her staff had met with the officers of CIDG Ilocos Norte held last July 14, 2014 at the NFA Provincial Office. They tackled significant issues and concerns relevant to the mandate of NFA and the role of the Palengke Watch and Price Monitoring Team. Present on the said meeting were P/Chief Inspector Arbel Castro Mercullo, CIDG ILN Chief and his staff SPO1 Cornelio B. Lacuesta Jr., and PO3 Danny Garces.

Later, they coordinated with the NBI in the province on July 16, 2014 at their provincial office wherein PM Peralta together with SEIO Eero Thor Peña and PSQAO Ferdinand Macusi represented the branch. They discussed about the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to curb hoarding, rice smuggling, cornering, diversion of NFA rice and other violations of PD4 and its implementing rules and regulations.

The NBI Ilocos Norte had assigned its staff to assist NFA on said task in the persons of Agent in Charge Dominador M. Villanueva, Executive Officer Hilario C. Manding, Atty. Carmelo B. Albayalde, and Investigator Mario A. Garcia. (Ruby Jean Calapini)