Davao City — The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), has completed the final leg of its nationwide inspection of dry storage warehouses (DSWs) for imported and locally produced rice, this time in the Davao Region.
The series of inspections, which began in September, stemmed from the directive of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. to monitor rice stocks and prices nationwide. The initiative follows his September 4 meeting with rice importers and distributors, where they agreed on a coordinated monitoring system to ensure transparency and consumer protection amid the government’s temporary 60-day ban on rice importation.
In Davao City, the inspection team — composed of representatives from BPI’s Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSSD), DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD XI), and the Office of the Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing for Consumer Affairs — visited several rice warehouses, including J-Agro Trade in Panacan, Nan Stu Agri Traders in Sasa, and Julu Enterprise, Inc. in Talomo District.
The team conducted thorough checks on both imported and locally produced rice varieties stored in these facilities. Imported rice stocks were mostly sourced from Vietnam, including the popular Jasmin variety, while local rice types such as Tonner, Malagkit, and Ilang were supplied from SOCCSKSARGEN, North Cotabato, Banaybanay (Davao Oriental), Davao del Sur, and other parts of the region.
Each warehouse was assessed for compliance with national standards and licensing requirements, including valid BPI registration, Food Safety Registration, FDA License to Operate (LTO), and the presence of a certified Food Safety Compliance Officer. The inspection also evaluated distribution and supply chain channels to ensure traceability and market transparency from warehouse to retailer.
According to the DA, the ongoing inspection drive is part of its broader strategy to maintain a balanced rice supply chain, curb hoarding and price manipulation, and ensure the availability of safe and affordable rice for Filipino consumers.
The agency underscored that these coordinated monitoring activities not only protect consumers from unfair market practices but also support the government’s goal of building a more transparent and resilient rice industry — one that benefits both producers and consumers alike.