An ordinance prohibiting the shipment of rice—-husked and unhusked/unmilled—-and all its by-products has been passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to ensure that the island has enough supply while the Enhanced Community Quarantine is in effect.
During the regular session of the legislators of the Province of Palawan on April 14, Third District Board Member Albert Rama noted that there would be a possible shortage of supply of rice in the province if the ECQ will take long, and proposed suspending or prohibiting to ship out rice outside the province.
His measure, which originally was a resolution, was turned into a proposed ordinance by his fellow board members. It was entitled, “Prohibiting/Banning the shipment of palay, milled rice and other By-products Outside of the Province of Palawan.”
It was addressed to all businessmen and Palaweños in the 23 municipalities of the province.
Anyone caught violating the proposed ordinance once it takes effect after the signing of the governor will be meted out with a P5,000 fine or imprisonment for maximum of six months or cancellation of their business permit and closure of their warehouses.
The authorities will also confiscate their products and the vehicle or the sea vessel or ship that they used to sell their product, until the case is decided.
In the Question and Answer Hour, the Provincial Board invited NFA-Palawan provincial manager Osmundo Guinto and Provincial Agriculturist Ariston Arzaga to answer queries on the subject matter.
Provincial Agriculturist Arzaga confirmed that there is a need to temporarily stop the shipment of rice and other similar products outside Palawan until the crisis is over because all municipalities will be needing to buy the said products for their constituents and therefore, there is a need to prioritize the needs of the Palaweño people.
The NFA provincial head said that Palawan, based on the data, is self-sufficient when it comes to the volume of planted rice but he added that it is a wisest decision to halt temporarily the shipment of those products for the meantime so that buying of rice outside the Palawan in the future will be avoided.
The implementers of this ordinance are the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy (PN), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Ports Authority, Western Command (wescom) and all local government units (LGUs) of the province of Palawan.
Meanwhile, the ordinance allows the entry of rice supplies and similar products from other provinces into the island.
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