Alvarez backs NFA Council abolition

FILE: House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (PPD/Toto Lozano)

MANILA — House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Sunday expressed support for President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s reported plan to abolish the National Food Authority (NFA) Council amid the recurring problem on the country’s rice supply.

“Personally, I think we don’t need such as council. We already have an NFA Administrator. Now, if he would only do his job I don’t think we would have any problem (on rice supply),” Alvarez said in a radio interview over DZMM program “Magandang Morning” with Zen Hernandez and Julius Babao.

Alvarez said Congress would also look into the possibility of reconstituting the NFA council through legislation.

“We might have to look into this matter because if the council was created by law we need to amend it,” Alvarez said.

On Friday, reports said Duterte wanted the 18-member NFA council abolished.

However, Malacañang later clarified that the President merely wants to reconstitute the council.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the NFA and the NFA Council would not be abolished, but Duterte wanted to place the NFA under the Office of the President.

The NFA Council is a policy-making body composed of representatives from government departments and financial institutions as well as private sectors and farmers sector.

Both the NFA Council and the NFA were created under Presidential Decree No. 1770, with the NFA making recommendations to the council on rice procurements.