FILE PHOTO: Workers unloading imported NFA rice
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Weevil-infestation on imported rice from Thailand puts the National Food Authority (NFA) at the center of criticisms in the recent days.
There are around 300,000 sacks of rice left unloaded in shipping vessels at various ports in the country due to consecutive days of monsoon rain last month.
Some of the stocks have been infested with weevils or bukbok and are currently being treated through fumigation which will take seven to 12 days.
The NFA maintains that the rice supply will still be safe for consumption as proven by Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol when he ate weevil-infested rice on national television.
A weed science expert Dr. Pio Javier explained, however, that weevils come in a variety of species. The most common, according to him, is the saw-toothed beetle that lives up to three years. This species can survive high temperature and can produce 300 to 500 eggs at a time.
Javier said there is no harm in eating weevil-infested rice provided that it is properly washed and cooked. However, if the rice stock already shows the growth of molds or “amag,” that means severe infestation which could endanger human health when consumed.
“Ang fumigants ay walang iniiwang residue sa grains. Hindi iyan kumakapit sa grains kaya safe iyong fumigation na ginagawa nila. Tapos ang mga insekto doon sa grains ay safe naman. Hindi ba sa mga exotic na restaurants ay kinakain nga ang mga insekto, iyong mga uod. So huwag kayong mag alala kapag may insekto ang ating bigas,” explained Dr. Javier, an Adjunct Research Professor at the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also shared the same information.
“Unless massively infected iyong rice ng bukbok, wala naman talaga siyang peligro kapag kinain basta mapakuluan lang, mailuto lang ng tama. Kung industrial volume ang pinag- uusapan then you fumigate,” he said.
The insect expert says weevils also attack corn and flour stocks.
He suggests that the Bureau of Quarantine exercise strict monitoring of agricultural products being shipped into the country because foreign insect species migrated through these shipments could endanger the country’s agriculture sector.
An example he cited was the cocolisap, which scientists traced its origin to Indonesia, which infested thousands of coconut trees and left farmers with billions of pesos lost in potential revenue. The cocolisap was believed to have entered the country through imported ornamental plants.
Dr. Javier stressed that the impact of weevil-infestation still depends on the species. Therefore, it is not safe to say that weevils that come from other countries are safe.
“Halimbawa nag-treat sila ng insekto doon sa Thailand. Tapos ang ginamit nilang insecticide ay matapang tapos nag develop ng resistance iyong insekto. Pagdating ng Pilipinas magti-treat din tayo ng insecticide. Kung resistant din sa insecticide iyong insekto, mahihirapan tayong i-control kung iyon ay resistant population ng bukbok,” he warned.
He recommends a thorough cleaning of the storage before putting rice stocks to prevent the breeding and infestation of weevils and other insects. – Rey Pelayo / Marje Pelayo
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