SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN CALLS FOR THE
INVESTIGATION OF CONTROVERSIAL NICA REPORT

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today says he will file a resolution calling for an investigation on the controversial report purportedly released by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) of a looming food shortage in the country.

"Hindi biro ang usaping ito at lubhang napaka-sensitibo para gamitin ng ilang mapagpangahas na grupo o indibidwal para sa sariling interes," Pangilinan says. "If it's true that this issue is being manipulated to drive prices high, then it's a matter that needs our serious attention."

Pangilinan, who is the Senate Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, is working closely with the Department of Agriculture in monitoring the state of the nation's food supply. Together with the COCAFM and the private sector, they created a task force whose mandate is to ensure food security. The task force, named Agriculture and Fisheries 2025 (AF2025), includes all the major players in the food supply chain in the country and aims to provide long-term, sustainable solutions to the various problems that continue to plague the agricultural sector.

"Speculation is one of the problems we've identified and this needs to be addressed. In this particular case, if we find out that it is manufactured and that unscrupulous traders are behind this, then they should be punished."