Agri group pushes probe of confiscated imported rice

By Liezle Basa Inigo

ROSALES, Pangasinan — The Samahang Industriyang Agrikultura or SINAG urged the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health to conduct a thorough inspection on all the seized imported rice amid food safety and public health concerns.

Rosendo So, SINAG Chair, said such tests should cover a wide range of food-borne hazards including chemical contaminants like toxic and pesticide residues, heavy metals and possible infestations, considering the months the smuggled rice had been stored.

“Sa tagal na nakaimbak ang mga bigas na ito, baka hindi na fit for human consumption, posibleng may mgabukbok na o maaring nabubulok na. There was a case only two years ago nayung imported rice after matagal na nakaimbak ay napatunayang hindi na pwedeng kainin,”So added.

He also asked officials that if the smuggled rice passed the inspection and found fit for human consumption, they should be sold immediately and only to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for their continuing relief efforts in disaster areas.

According to SINAG, about 2,000 container vans of seized rice amounts to almost 50 million kilos of rice or about five days of residents’ total rice consumption

Meanwhile, SINAG yesterday lauded the decision of the Supreme Court to junk the petition filed by traders Joseph Ngo, Danilo Galang and Ivy Souza for the release of some 300,000 bags of alleged smuggled rice earlier seized by the Bureau of Customs.

“This should finally put an end to all misinformation and blatant lies being peddled by smugglers to confuse the public so they can get away with their smuggling activities,” said So.

“This is now (a) full victory for the local rice industry and a relief to the millions of rice farmers whose livelihood has been threatened by the rampant smuggling of rice,” he added.

According to SINAG, for two cropping seasons, rice farmers have enjoyed unprecedented good farm gate palay prices, ranging from P22-P23.50/kilo; which the group attributes to efforts to curb rice smuggling.