By Malu Manar KIDAPAWAN CITY – Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol has directed rice seed producers in Soccsksargen or Region 12 to refrain from using Department of Agriculture (DA)-marked bags to sell their products to private agricultural traders. Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol (Mark Balmores|Manila Bulletin File Photo) Piñol issued the order after he received complaints from a netizen that a number of sacks of seedlings with markings, “Not for Sale; Government Property,” are being sold to an agri buy-and-sell store in President Roxas, a town in North Cotabato. A netizen, who requested anonymity, asked Piñol as to why a private agri trader in President Roxas town was allowed to display and sell seedlings with DA markings. Piñol explained that those may be marked, “DA Not for Sale”, but they may not have come from the DA. He said rice seed producers in the region have used those DA-marked bags when they deal with the agency, like, participate in the bidding process. “If they could not get the project or sell their seeds to the DA, they sell the seeds, instead, these DA-marked bags to agri private agri supply stores, anywhere,” Piñol said. The secretary clarified the DA is not, in anyway, involved in such kind of transaction. “We are being monitored or checked by government agencies to ensure we don’t engage in corruption,” he stressed. The secretary has already issued a directive disallowing the use of those bags to prevent confusion and misunderstanding.