NFA stops use of ‘indelible’ ink to mark rice buyers

By Ephraim Aguilar
Inquirer Southern Luzon

LEGAZPI CITY--THE NATIONal Food Authority in the Bicol region has called off the use of “indelible” ink to mark the fingers of buyers of government-subsidized rice after the scheme drew sharp criticisms.

Jose Guevarra, assistant NFA regional director, said the agency had been hearing comments from various sectors and the media that the ink-staining of buyers “demeans the poor,” who are queuing for the cheap rice because they cannot afford the commercial varieties.

Commercial rice is now being sold from P28 to P34 per kilo here.

NFA rice is still pegged at P18.25 per kilo, but buyers are still limited to three kilos.

“We have been receiving many calls from the public. Many were asking why it was necessary to use indelible ink,” Guevarra said.

He explained it was not the intention of NFA retailers to offend the poor but to prevent repeat purchases by the same person on the same day.

Guevarra said the NFA had given orders yesterday, through rice trade organizations like Grecon, to call off the use of indelible ink starting Thursday.

“We have to be sensitive and considerate of public opinion,” he said in a mobile phone interview.

He said the NFA office in Bicol also advised retailers to devise other plans to prevent certain buyers from cornering rice stocks.

“Now we see that the most we can do is to appeal to the public to help authorities ensure equal distribution of government rice,” Guevarra said.

Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon yesterday said he would order an investigation of the use of “indelible” ink, saying that it could be a hoax circulated to cause panic.

Guevarra said the Bicol region was expecting the delivery of 134,000 bags of rice from Vietnam this Friday and another 204,000 bags on April 16.

The NFA sells 9,112 bags of rice daily in the region, he said.