Marcos distributes smuggled rice in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr flew here on Tuesday and led the distribution of confiscated smuggled rice to poor families.

 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. distributes around 1,500 sacks of smuggled rice to various beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program during his visit to the National Food Authority-Region IX warehouse in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Alfred Frias / NIB-PNA)

The rice, according to the local government, were part of the P42 million alleged contraband seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at a local warehouse. The announcement of the seizure of some 42,180 sacks was made on September 15 by the BOC. 

Some 1,500 bags of 25-kilo rice were distributed to the beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). 

“The rice turned over to some 1,500 beneficiaries formed part of the 42,180 smuggled sacks of rice worth P42 million forfeited by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga during its warehouse raid in Barangay San Jose Gusu in Zamboanga City on September 15, 2023,” the local government said. 

It said the seized rice was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for distribution to its beneficiaries in the Zamboanga Peninsula region. 

Prior to the rice distribution, Marcos - accompanied by Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., National Food Authority Administrator Robert Rayo Bioco, Customs District Collector Arthur Sevilla Jr - also distributed aid to various farmers and fishermen here. 

Rice in Zamboanga sells as high as P54-P60 a kilo despite a recent price cap imposed by Marcos. The president said there is still a chance that the P20 per kilo of rice could be realized in the future, pointing out that once the agriculture sector and the cost of production in the country would become stable and normalize, the goal would be reached. 

“May chance lagi iyan. Kung maayos natin ang production natin at maging maayos, hindi na tayo masyadong bagyuhin at ‘yung mga tulong na ibinibigay natin sa mga farmer ay magamit na nila,” Marcos said.  

He said there are factors happening outside the country that are directly affecting the prices of basic commodities, prompting the government and the market to adjust, emphasizing that it would be easy for the government to make the necessary adjustments once everything normalizes.  

“Ngunit, kapag talaga nagawa natin ang cost of production binaba natin ay bababa rin ang presyo ng bigas. Bababa rin lahat. Basta’t mas mataas ang ani kahit na pwede nating ipagpantay ang presyo,” he said. 

Marcos said the government is exhausting all remedies to ensure that prices of staple food in the market are still affordable to all, especially to those who find it difficult to make ends meet. After Zamboanga City, Marcos also distributed smuggled rice in Zamboanga Sibugay province. (Mindanao Examiner)