Piñol must get act together, address rice crisis: Pangilinan

Now that the National Food Authority has returned under the wings of the Department of Agriculture, the first order of the day for Secretary Manny Pinol is to get their act together to address the rice crisis.

This is a crucial time when the government should implement sound policies and show decisiveness in reforming the NFA so that it could respond to its mandate of ensuring available and affordable grains.

We need to combat unscrupulous rice traders in cahoots with corrupt NFA officials and managers; make a calculated schedule on rice importation; increase the buying of palay from local farmers. These are among the urgent tasks facing Sec. Pinol that could make a dent in our rice supply situation these days.

The country's rice supply in the coming months is expected to be affected after typhoon Ompong inundated thousands of hectares of rice and corn fields in Northern and Central Luzon. What the people hope for is the end to this rice crisis with the NFA's transfer to the DA.