World Bank execs call on P-Noy
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President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed today ranking officials of the World Bank (WB) during a courtesy call at
the Yellow Room of the Malacanang Guest House.
The President received Mr. James Adams, WB vice president for the East Asia Pacific, who was accompanied by
WB Philippines Director Bert Hofman and Jesse Ang, resident representative of the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), a member of the WB Group which promotes sustainable private sector investment to improve
the quality of lives in developing countries.
The WB is a major source of development assistance and technical support in terms of development policies
and reform programs in infrastructure, social development, education, health, among others.
Joining the President in welcoming the callers were were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Finance
Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Social Welfare Undersecretary Alicia Bala.
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Palace studying proposal to give excess NFA rice imports to RP’s poor
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Malacañang today said that it will study suggestions that President Benigno S. Aquino III allow the distribution of
surplus imported rice to poor families instead of leaving the grains to rot in warehouses.
“Certainly isang magandang suhestyon yon, pero pag-aaralan pa” (Certainbly that is a good suggestion, but we
will study it), Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing today.
Lacierda said National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Lito Banayo had hinted at the possibility of dispensing
the excess supply of rice to the poor. A farmer’s group, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, concurred with the
NFA chief’s suggestion and urged President Aquino the other day to distribute the surplus rice to the more than
four million impoverished Filipinos.
Lacierda said Banayo is currently assessing the condition of the rice stocks stored in NFA warehouses.
He also said Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman would also be consulted regarding
Banayo’s recommendation.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, President Aquino revealed that due to the over
importation of rice during the Arroyo administration, excess supply was left to rot in warehouses, while the
government agonizes over a P171.6 billion debt incurred by the NFA in rice importation as of May 2010.
Banayo has said that the NFA, with the help of the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of
investigation would conduct a probe that will involve a system and management audit on the reported over-
importation of rice and determine the possible accountability of parties involved.
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