Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr., chairman of the House committee on agriculture and food, poses this question to resource persons during the panel investigation on the true state of the country’s rice supply.  The inquiry was based on House Resolution Nos. 842, 951, 993, 1013, 1013, 1588, 1648, 1658 and 1689. The resolutions are calling for an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the possible existence of a rice shortage in the country. Jason Aquino, administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA), assured the panel there is no rice shortage in the country. He said that what the country lacks now is affordable rice for the Filipino people particularly the poor and accessible rice for those living in island provinces. Among those who attended the meeting were Reps. Anthony Bravo, Manuel Luis Lopez, Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Rico Geron, Gary Alejano, Cecilia Leonila Chavez, Micaela Violago, Orestes Salon, Jose Tejada, Michelle Antonio, Delphine Gan Lee, Isagani Amatong, Francisco Datol, Jr., Edgar Sarmiento, Ramon Rocamora, Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso, Eugene De Vera, Fernando Gonzalez, Aniceto Bertiz III, Peter Unabia, Wilfredo Caminero and Leo Rafael Cueva. Resource persons invited to the meeting include Secretary Emmanuel Piñol of the Department of Agriculture and the NFA Council led by lawyer Jeck Otero. (MVIP)