Amid speculations of health risks posed by weevils and alleged formalin contamination in galunggong, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol ate cooked weevil-infested rice together with fried galunggong on live television to allay fears.

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol personally cooked sample of weevil-infested rice himself and ate it on live television together with fried galunggong or round scad.

The Secretary wants to allay public fear on health risks of eating weevil-infested rice and to counter rumors on formalin-conatminated galunggong.

“Wala akong sinabing kakain ako ng bukbok. Ang sinasabi ko lang, wag nating itapon ang bigas na ginapangan ng bukbok kasi pag hinugasan yan, makakain yan,” the Secretary said.

The DA Secretary explained that he has not yet received information on the formal return of the National Food Authority (NFA) under the DA but since they have been tagged in the rice controversy, Piñol said they will join the NFA until the rice issue is solved.

“But we are working closely with the NFA. Whether or not the NFA will be transferred to the DA, I have made a personal decision — pangangatawanan ko na ito. Nadadamay na rin lang ang DAsa presyo ng bigas. Tutulungan na namin ang NFA na solusyunan ito,” he said. — Rey Pelayo / Marje Pelayo

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Rice grains infested with rice weevils

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