A consumer group is asking the National Food Authority (NFA) to look into allegations that port operator Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc (HCPTI) is illegally storing rice in its facilities.
HCPTI operates Manila’s bulk and breakbulk terminal, Harbour Centre.
National Coalition of Filipino Consumers (NCFC) spokesperson Bency Ellorin said HCPTI could be charged with rice smuggling and hoarding.
“NFA should immediately conduct a probe because this is a clear violation of government rules,” the group said in a statement.
Under government regulations, NCFC said only NFA-accredited warehouses are allowed to store rice imported by the NFA.
The NCFC revealed it has received information that warehouses of HCPTI have been keeping tons of NFA rice although it has no accreditation from the authority.
HCPTI, however, denied the allegations, noting “There is no rice cargo stored within the premises of HCPTI.”
The company told PortCalls: “We would like to stress that HCPTI is solely engaged in port operations and not warehousing. We serve the vessel’s docking and discharging of cargoes. In the case of NFA cargo, these are immediately loaded to NFA accredited trucks after unloading from the vessel.”
NCFC expressed fears that HCPTI is also being used by rice smugglers, or by rice hoarders trying to manipulate market price of the commodity.
“Aside from looking into the possibility of the HCPTI illegally storing NFA rice, a deeper probe should be simultaneously conducted to find out if the HCPTI is involved in smuggling or hoarding,” NCFC said.
The group said illegal hoarding of NFA rice is a clear violation of Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, punishable by five to 15 years of imprisonment and can cost a business its accreditation and lead to its blacklisting.
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