Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol proved the critics that bukbok-infested rice (imported grains) and galunggong are safe for consumption by showing them in a UNTV live report by Rey Pelayo.
Secretary Piñol started: “Ang isyu dito e, ‘yun ba daw bigas na ginapangan ng bukbok ay pwede pang kainin? Pwede. Kanina pinakita po natin kung paano huhugasan, paano isasaing. Tapos na po, luto na po.
“Pangalawa, ‘yun daw bang galunggong ay may formalin? Ang sagot ng BFAR, wala. We conducted tests, limang tests, negative lahat sa formalin ‘yung mga galunggong.”
Piñol said before digging into the rice and fish meal, “Ngayon ipapakita ko sa inyo because kanina may video tayo ng pagsasaing. AKo po mismo ang nagsaing nito para malaman ninyo na si Manny Piñol ay anak ng magsasaka at marunong magsaing.”
“Ito po ang kanin na may bukbok, pwedeng kainin….”
“Galunggong na may formalin? Kainin natin. Walang formalin ito.”
Piñol pointed out some businessmen making stories about galunggong with formalin. “Gawa-gawa iyan ng mga negosyante na ayaw nila na ‘yung bagong import system natin, dadaan na sa mangingisda ang mga import.”
The Agriculture chief recently drew public backlash proposing plans to import more rice and fish, as well as legalize rice smuggling, in a bid to fight rising inflation.
Various groups even called for Piñol’s resignation, which he strongly rejected.
Lawmakers last month warned the National Food Authority that the 330,000 bags of rice it imported may be unfit for human consumption due to weevils. The NFA, for its part, denied that it is selling bukbok-infested rice in the market amid the continuous fumigation of imported rice.
