Fight Rising Rice Prices And Get A ₱250,000 Reward

Written by imoney

Rising prices and suspected hoarding by errant traders are depleting retail rice supplies in the Philippines.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) on 1 Sept had announced a joint campaign against rice hoarding, by offering a ₱250,000 reward for those who blow the whistle on hoarders in a bid to help ease the country’s rice supply woes.

The “Report a Hoarder” campaign promises the reward to “citizens who could provide information that would result in the arrest of rice hoarders,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in a recent Facebook post.

“In launching the campaign, DA and NFA expect traders to release their stocks and stabilize prices.

“Identity of informants will be held in strict confidentiality,” Piñol added.

The Agriculture Secretary also revealed that the authorities discovered stacks of premium white and glutinous rice in at least five warehouses within Bulacan province’s Marilao municipality.

Piñol had also instructed the NFA to verify if the owners of the rice are amassing the rice stocks, saying holding on to the stocks is hoarding, which is punishable by fines and imprisonment.

Yesterday, President Rodrigo Duterte had also ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to open the warehouses of the suspected rice hoarders, warning that he would send in the military and police to conduct raids on the rice hoarders’ warehouses.

Those who have information could contact the authorities through these numbers:

(02) 920-9117 – Office of the Secretary, DA

0928-611-5555 – DZRH Textline

(02) 8326166; 8326167; 8326117 – DZRH (PR)