RICE ISSUE. Vice Gov. Julius Herrera, Marlito Uy of Alturas Group, agri consultant Jose Quitasol, NFA Manager Rey Alcoseba and Provl Agri chief Liza Quirog talk about the rice situation during a media forum last Thursday. Foto DANNY REYES

Gov. Erico Aumentado on Friday justified why regulations are imposed on the trading of rice outside the province after his executive order generated negative reactions from the national media and some officials.

Last week, Aumentado issued an executive order asking all rice shippers to first secure a clearance from the nearest National Food Authority (NFA) office and limit their weekly shipment to 500 sacks of 50 kilos each.

This is a huge reduction from the 3,000 sacks allowed to rice traders.

Last Wednesday, Albay governor and former presidential economic adviser Joey Salceda said Aumentado's EO demonstrates a "parochial" view on the supposed rice crisis.

NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT

"Unlike what is often told, Bohol is not yet that [rice] self sufficient," Aumentado said.

Citing data culled from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, the governor said Bohol is only 83-percent rice sufficient and production is barely enough to support local consumption.

"We are just averting a scenario during the coming lean months," he said over his weekly radio program "The Governor Reports".

Together with the Grains Retailers Convention (GRECON) and other government agencies and local government units Bohol regulates shipping out palay and milled rice.

The Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police in cooperation with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines are likewise tasked to make sure that such an order is implemented and executed.

The LMP, through its President, Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren recently signed a memorandum with the governor declaring support to the order.

The move to regulate is placed "to avert any form of smuggling and speculative buying of rice and palay here," the governor asserted.

The governor also added the need to stop and curb unlicensed buyers form racking in profits while leaving Boholanos uncertain of their rice sufficiency.

He said there are more than 300 rice and grain traders under GRECON.

NO HOARDING

The Alturas Group of Companies (AGC), said to be the biggest private dealer of rice and corn industry here flatly dismissed allegations that the company is into hoarding and re-sacking of the staple food with other varieties.

Marlito Uy, general manager of the company, told the Bohol Tri-Media forum held at the Island City Mall (ICM) last week that his company sees to it that it helps to sustain sufficiency of the staple food because they are not in the business of hoarding.

He said to prove his point his company buys stock from Mindoro at a higher price of a certain variety while the same variety is sold here at a lower price.

Uy was reacting to the stories peddled around that AGC is literally mixing the stock with other varieties of rice or that supplied by the National Food Authority (NFA).

He explained that probably the "hoarding" may be found at the households for fear that stock might run out of supply.

He said that because there are no post harvest facilities or the lack of it for farmers for their produce wastage can't be avoided.

The company was said to have been the object of suspicion because it allegedly supplies rice to other provinces.

The allegation was even raised before the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) but there was no direct reference to AGC.

Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera defended the position of the SP, saying that any issue can be raised before it as long as it is manifested by a board member. The board member who brought to SP's attention the allegation was not named by the vice-governor, however.

Aside from Herrera, provincial agriculturist Liza Quirog, NFA boss Nestor Alcoseba and his assistant Ma. Fe Evasco, agriculture consultant Dr. Jose Quitazol, DTI's provincial head Arbon, Alturas Group of Companies general manager Marlito Uy and BTMA president Peter Dejaresco also attended and participated in the forum. (With reports from Ric Obedencio)