PRRD eyes Army chief as next NFA administrator

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with the guests during the Joint 68th National Security Council and 69th National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Founding Anniversary Celebration at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on July 31, 2018. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his desire to appoint Philippine Army (PA) Chief Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista as next administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA).

During the situation briefing on the effects of Typhoon Ompong in Tuguegarao on Sunday, Duterte asked Bautista to take over the NFA after the latter’s retirement from the military on October 15.

“Mabait yan si Rolly (Rolly is kind). In the meantime na hindi kita mailagay sa (that I cannot put you in the) central bank, pwede ka muna sa NFA siguro (perhaps you can go to NFA). Rationalize the idiotic,” he said.

The President’s first marching order to the outgoing PA chief is to make NFA structural to address the country’s rice supply.

He said he needs someone whom he could trust to handle NFA.

“There’s the problem because there’s a dearth of a substantial knowledge of where the rice is. That’s (why) I need somebody I can trust at masasabihan ko na (to whom I could say), ‘Fix that,’” Duterte said.

“Wala naman ako mailagay, si Bautista muna come October (I can’t find someone to put there. Bautista first, come October),” he added.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that Bautista’s appointment as NFA administrator will take effect on October 15.

Duterte earlier announced that incumbent NFA Adminstrator Jason Aquino has requested to be replaced.