From the Website of DILG
links: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Roxas-Inspection-uncovers-Warehouse-mixing-Commercial-Rice-with-Animal-Feeds/NC-2014-1006
links: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Roxas-Inspection-uncovers-Warehouse-mixing-Commercial-Rice-with-Animal-Feeds/NC-2014-1006
Roxas Inspection uncovers Warehouse mixing Commercial Rice with Animal Feeds
A government team inspecting
warehouses suspected to be used in hoarding activities today discovered
an appalling modus operandi: rice imported from Thailand are mixed with
broken rice intended for animal feeds then sold to the market as premium
Sinandomeng rice.
The new modus was discovered when
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, accompanied by officials of the PNP
Criminal Investigation Group, Bulacan local officials, agents from the
Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Food Authority and the Bureau of
Customs, personally inspected the Purefeeds Corporation warehouse
located at the First Industrial Center in Barangay Tikay, Malolos City,
at noon today.
Roxas said the owners of Purefeeds Corp. could be held criminally liable for violations of Philippine Trade laws.
“May violation sila sa NFA, sa Bureau of
Animal Industry, sa Bureau of Internal Revenue at maging sa Bureau of
Customs,” the DILG chief said.
“The broken rice residue intended for
animal feeds came from Vietnam and was being mixed with the Blue Diamond
rice imported from Thailand, and then repacked and being sold as
“Golden Bee” Premium Sinandomeng rice,” he pointed out.
Roxas said the operations of the rice
mill will be temporary suspended while appropriate charges are being
readied against the Purefeeds Corp, which is owned by a certain Jomerito
Soliman.
The raid at the Purefeeds warehouse was
the 18th operations conducted by the CIDG and NFA. Of the 18 raids,
Roxas said only four were found to be engaged in illicit trading of
rice.
Roxas said that under Republic Act No.
7581, or the Price Act, the PNP and other law enforcement units may be
deputized to monitor and inspect warehouses for possible hoarding and
diversion of NFA rice.
“Hindi natin papayagang umiral ang
panloloko ng mga negosyante sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi natin sila
tatantanan at hindi natin papayagan na makakain ng ganito ang ating mga
mamamayan ,” Roxas said, referring to the adulterated rice.
During the inspection, the government
team discovered inside the warehouse at least 32,000 sacks of assorted
broken rice intended for animal feed that were imported in Vietnam and
regular rice imported from Thailand.
Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan
PNP acting director, said two trucks loaded with 900 sacks of the
adulterated rice were prevented from leaving the warehouse.
According to NFA Administrator Arthur S.
Juan, they will investigate why the two trucks seized at Purefeeds
warehouse bore the logo of NFA complete with license number.
The Marilao warehouse was one of the 18
warehouses inspected by the PNP-CIDG since Thursday (July 3), when Roxas
directed the PNP to assist government agencies in the investigation and
filing of cases against those behind the artificial increase in the
prices of essential commodities such as rice, garlic, ginger, pork,
chicken, and milk.
The series of inspection led to the
discovery of 220,000 bags of rice found stacked in the warehouses,
80,000 of which were found to be in violation of anti-hoarding laws.
Two of the warehouses which were
personally inspected by Roxas and Magalong early Sunday (July 6)
morning, yielded 14,996 bags of NFA rice and 4,580 bags of commercial
rice.
During inspection of Warehouse #A1 and
#A2, in JY & Son Compound., Km. 23, West Service Road., Cupang,
Muntinlupa City, a commercial rice milling machine believed to be used
for polishing inferior quality and old stock rice was also discovered.
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As a result of government
efforts to clear Metro Manila’s informal settler families (ISFs) from
dangerous waterways, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas
led today the ceremonies for the turnover of the cleared three-meter
easement of Maricaban Creek in Pasay City to barangay officials of
Barangay 180 and 183.
649 Families Rescued from Danger Zones under Oplan Likas
As a result of government
efforts to clear Metro Manila’s informal settler families (ISFs) from
dangerous waterways, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas
led today the ceremonies for the turnover of the cleared three-meter
easement of Maricaban Creek in Pasay City to barangay officials of
Barangay 180 and 183.
Roxas said the creek’s 3-meter easement
is now cleared after around 649 ISFs living along the waterway
voluntarily relocated in a resettlement site located in Brgy. Hugo in
Trece Martirez City since November 2013 under the government’s “Oplan
Likas” program.
“Walang ibang hangad ang pamahalaan
kundi masigurong ang mga mamamayan ay malayo sa sakuna o anumang peligro
dulot ng kalamidad. Kaya natutuwa ako na sa pamamagitan ng Oplan Likas
ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kababayan na manirahan sa
isang ligtas na pamayanan,” said the DILG Secretary, who is also
Vice-Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness.
“Oplan Likas” or “Lumikas para Iwas
Kalamidad at Sakit,” which is being spearheaded by the DILG, aims to
relocate ISFs living along so-called danger zones in various parts of
Metro Manila to safe, decent, and affordable housing units as part of
President Aquino’s “Covenant with the Poor.” Other agencies involved in
the program are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), National Housing
Authority (NHA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR).
Maricaban Creek is one of the eight
priority waterways identified by the government that have to be widened
and dredged and cleared of structures. The other waterways are: San Juan
River, Manggahan Floodway, Estero Tripa de Galina, Tullahan River,
Pasig River, Estero de Maypajo and Estero de Sunog Apog.
The DILG Chief said the clearing of the
3-meter easement along the Maricaban Creek also makes way for the
implementation of the Metro Manila Flood Control Project of the DPWH.
This includes the dredging of rivers, improvement of urban drainage
system, and dike/river wall construction and excavation. As of now,
dredging activities are already being undertaken in the area and the
first phase of the revetment wall had already been completed.
“The relocation will pave the way for
the unimpeded development of flood management system for Metro Manila.
The vacated communities will be secured by the government and properly
marked as danger zones to prevent building of structures in the future,”
Roxas said.
During the activity, Brgy. Captain Pio
Arce of Brgy. 180 expressed his gratitude to Roxas and said that the
sangguniang barangay has passed a resolution accepting responsibility
for the 3-meter easement to ensure that the ISFs will not return to the
area again. Brgy. 183 issued a similar resolution.
“Dahil sa tulong ninyo, mababawasan na
ang pagbaha dito sa aming lugar at makakaasa rin po kayo na wala ng ISF
na maninirahan malapit sa creek,” Arce said.
One of the relocatees, Norma Lectonin,
who is now living in the relocation site in Trece Martirez City, also
shared that her family, along with the other families, is happy with her
new home and adjusting very well in their new community.
“Salamat po sa ating mahal na Pangulo at
kay Sec. Roxas dahil mayroon na po kaming maayos at ligtas na tahanan
at hindi na kami nababahala sa baha at malakas ang bagyo,” she said,
adding that most of them have engaged in small enterprises like
sari-sari store and carinderia to make a living.
As of June 30, 2014, housing units
amounting to a total of P147.6-million have already been distributed to
738 ISFs from the Maricaban area. A total of 1,845 starter food packs
and 550 health kits have also been given to the families aside from the
P18,000 financial assistance per family.
“Bago magtapos ang buwang ito, inaasahan
ko na sa tulong ng lokal na pamahalaan ay wala ng ISF sa buong kahabaan
ng Maricaban Creek,” Roxas said.
In attendance during the turnover rites
were Pasay City Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano, DPWH Secretary Rogelio
Singson, and Barangay Captains Pio Arce and Maria Lita Landagan of Brgy.
180 and 183, respectively.
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