BOCAUE, Bulacan — Sen. Bong Go to support Senate investigation on alleged anomalous National Food Authority (NFA) transactions with private traders and wants those involved to be prosecuted and face the legal consequences.

This was the message of the senator on the investigation being conducted by the Department of Agriculture on the said issue during an ambush interview after the inauguration of the 161st Malasakit Center at the Joni Villanueva General Hospital compound in this town on March 11.

The senator was joined in the inauguration ceremony by Sen. Joel “Tesdaman” Villanueva, Bocaue Mayor Eduardo “Jonjon” Villanueva, Gov. Daniel Fernando, Vice Gov. Alexis Castro, 5th District Rep. Ambrosio Cruz, Bocaue Vice Mayor Sherwin Tugna, Department of Health Usec. Maria Rosario Clarissa Singh-Vergeire and other health officials.

The Malasakit Center provides an accessible healthcare and support to the Bulakeños, and is a one-stop shop for agencies that include PhilHealth, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It grants medical and financial assistance to the indigent and financially incapacitated patients without requiring them to leave the hospital premises to access the services of the aforementioned agencies.

Bocaue Mayor Eduardo “Jonjon” Villanueva emphasized that the Malasakit Center’s goal to aid the community aligns with Bocaue’s health program.

“In line with the local government units health program, we are committed to deliver the best possible services to our people. Kaya itong Malasakit Center na dinala ni Senator Bong Go dito sa ating Mayor Joni General Hospital ay napakalaking bagay para sa ating mga kababayan. Dahil thru Malasakit Center makakatulong na mabawasan din ang mga gastusin ng ating mga pasyente. Kaya kami ay forever grateful na narating ang Mayor Joni General Hospital ng Malasakit Center,” Mayor Villanueva explained.

Bulacan Governor Fernando said, “Ang center na ito ay nagpapatunay sa ating kolektibong adhikain na magbigay ng mas abot-kamay, abot-kaya at dekalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan para sa lahat.”

After the ceremonial activity, Go told mediamen that it is important to know what really transpired on the transaction between the NFA and the private traders and added maybe there is an existing law that penalize anomalous NFA rice transactions with the private traders.

He cited that, “Hindi biro yung P112 million unauthorized sale of the NFA rice” as he pointed out that it is not the mandate of the NFA to directly sell rice to private traders.

The senator stressed that if there is someone that should be protected from the anomalous sale of these rice it should be the farmers.

“Dapat suportahan natin ang mga farmers natin na isang kahig isang tuka na nagtatrabaho at nagpapawis para sa kanilang araw-araw na pamumuhay,” Go noted.

📹: Mon Lazaro
📷: Office of Mayor Jonjon Villanueva