Officials and employees of the National Food Authority and NFA rice consumers expressed extreme disgust over the remarks of National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon that some people buy NFA rice “for the dogs.”
Edillon made that statement, coupled with audible laughter, during a phonepatch interview with Alvin Elchico and Doris Bigornia during their program “S.R.O.: Suhestiyon, Reaksyon, Opinyon” last March 5, 2019. Topic of the show was the Rice Liberalization Law that took effect on the same day.
In the course of the interview, host Doris Bigornia asked about the welfare of consumers who are patrons of the low-priced quality NFA rice at P27.00/kilogram, saying that even the middle-class families are buying that variety in order to save on other expenses as prices of other consumer goods continue to rise.
In a very unprofessional and highly-insensitive tone, Edillon remarked that there is a “quality difference” and that some people buy NFA rice for other uses. Asked by host Alvin El Chico on what possible other uses the NFA rice is bought for, Edillon, in a condescending tone, said “for the dogs” with naughty giggling.
NFA’s OIC administrator Tomas Escarez said such remarks, coming from a high-ranking official of government, is a slap on the face to the more than 10 million poor Filipinos who have, through the years, relied on the low-priced, good quality NFA rice for their daily meals. It is also an insult to the more than 4,000 NFA employees nationwide who have been faithfully protecting the quality of NFA rice in its warehouses, delivering the staple to the marginalized consumers in far-flung barangays, isolated island provinces and poor urban areas, and consuming it themselves.
“This is the highest form of arrogance, callousness and being “mata pobre”! An insult to the more than 10 million Filipinos who eat NFA rice, not to mention the more than 4,000 NFA employees who risk their lives to reach far-flung areas and islands to serve the poor and marginalized kababayan,” Escarez wrote on his Facebook account. It immediately drew strong reactions from his followers.
Some of the reactions to Edillon’s remarks are: “Napakainsensitive naman ng Usec na ito! Aso pala ang tingin niya sa mga Pilipinong bumibili at kumakain ng NFA rice!”; “Unprofessional remarks…”;Nakakabaligtad ng sikmura…masyadong matapobre…kawawa naman ang mahihirap na tao ididukduk pa sa lupa dahil hinalintulad sa aso… ”; “Nakakalungkot na meron ganitong klaseng public servant”.
One NFA employee commented:”Buwis buhay po kaming tumatawid sa mga maliliit na isla para maparating and murang bigas sa mahihirap na kapwa natin..pakain lang pala sa aso ang turing nila sa bigas na halos ikamatay ng mga empleyado ng NFA maihatid lang sa mga kababayan natin…; “We’ve been eating NFA rice for 20 years and we are not dogs!”
Virginia Basas Nalangan, an NFA rice retailer, said: “Kaming retailers ng NFA rice, di po amin binibenta pag sinasabi na pagkain ng aso. Halos 200-500 kada araw ang pumipila para sa murang bigas, puro aso ba yan sila?”
Some netizens even questioned Edillon’s estimate that imported rice could be priced lower than the P27/kg NFA rice at as low as P25-P26/kg. Cathy Samson said;” I may not be as good an economist as you, but common sense dictates that if the landed cost of imported rice is P18/kg (as Edillon cited), adding the 35% tariff would result to P24.30/kg. Factor in other costs such as permits, storage, transport etc. or at least P2/kg in overhead expenses, the wholesale price would be P26.30/kg. I doubt if a retailer would be willing to earn a mere P0.70/kg to sell it to end consumers at P27/kg. It’s simply wishful thinking that private traders could sell imported rice at below P27/kg.”