GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) assured on Monday that the city and the neighboring areas have remained free of the presence of fake rice products similar to what was earlier found in Davao City.
Dianne Silva, NFA Region 11 manager, said Monday they have not monitored the presence of the controversial product in any part of the city and other parts of area in the last several weeks.
Although administratively part of Region 12 or Soccsksargen, this city and nearby Sarangani Province are under the jurisdiction of NFA Region 11 along with Davao City and Davao provinces.
“There are no synthetic fake rice being sold and have been circulating in the city. The earlier report regarding a suspected fake rice in Davao City is an isolated case and is being verified,” she said in a statement.
Silva was invited by the city council here as resource person in an inquiry regarding the proliferation of fake or synthetic rice initiated by the committee on consumer welfare chaired by City Councilor Richard Aten-dido.
The official assured that her office is closely monitoring every rice retailer and supplier that have been operating in the city. She said they are specifically monitoring the possible entry of fake as well as smuggled rice products in the local markets.
A resident of Davao City reported to the NFA last June 26 the supposed fake rice that was believed to be an imported product. Silva said the complainant claimed their cooked rice looked unnaturally white in color and has a texture like that of a Styrofoam.
She said they added that when held and squeezed, the grain of the rice reportedly felt like that of a foam.
The Department of Health satellite laboratory in Davao City had found three chemicals in the alleged fake rice samples that were submitted to them for testing.
The agency said the chemicals are normally found in pharmaceutical drugs and though the chemicals are not harmful to the human body in small doses, they should still be avoided.
The Philippine National Police has created a special inter-agency task force to investigate and stop the proliferation of the supposed fake rice.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture headed by Senator Cynthia Villar also launched an inquiry on the matter on Monday. Owing to this, Vice Mayor Shirlyn Bañas urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities in the area relation to the possible selling of the fake rice.
She assured that the local government is doing its best to prevent problems that would endanger the public like the distribution of the synthetic or fake rice in the local markets. (PNA)
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