Duterte won’t abolish NFA Council

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte would not scrap the inter-agency National Food Authority Council (NFA), his spokesperson said Tuesday.

“The NFA Council will not be abolished,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this clarification a day after Duterte presided a meeting with the NFA Council.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol earlier said Duterte disclosed his decision to abolish the NFA Council but Roque neither confirmed nor denied the abolition order.

Although the NFA Council would not be abolished, Roque said that it would be reorganized.

Roque said that it was also discussed in the meeting that council member, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), requested to be relieved from the NFA Council, so that it would be able to focus on its other projects.

According to Roque, the Chief Executive has approved DBP’s request.

Meanwhile, Roque said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would take the place of DBP.

NFA to return to DA

Roque, meanwhile, confirmed Piñol’s claim that Duterte indeed wanted the NFA to return as an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“The NFA, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) will be made attached agencies of the Department of Agriculture (DA),” Roque said.

Four years ago during the Aquino administration, the NFA, PCA and the FPA were placed under the Office of the President.

Meanwhile, Roque also confirmed that Duterte has given the NFA authority to import 250,000 metric tons of rice through government to government (G2G) mode to replenish the rice inventory.

Imported rice is also expected to arrive soon, he added.

He said that subsequent importation is to be done by government to private (G2P) or auction and importation would be implemented/supervised by the Executive Council Committee headed by the OP.