Palace sees ‘closer coordination’ between DA, attached agencies

Roque said with the NFA now under the DA, there should also be more “efficient” determination on the factors, which would require the importation of rice.
(PCOO FILE PHOTO)

MANILA — There should be closer coordination between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s signing of an executive order returning the NFA back to its original agency, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“We’re hoping that with NFA, Philippine Coconut Authority, and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) back in the DA ay magkakaroon po ng (there would be) closer coordination sa panig ng (between) DA at ng mga ahensiya na closely naman (and agencies closely) associated with agriculture,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

The NFA, PCA and the FPA were placed under the Office of the President (OP) during the administration of then president Benigno Aquino III.

“Dati-dati naman po talaga itong tatlong ahensiya na ito ay nasa ilalim ng Department of Agriculture nahiwalay lang po yan ng panahon na kinakailangan bigyan ng trabaho si Senator (Francis) Pangilinan (In the past, these agencies were originally under the DA, they were only transferred to the OP to give Senator Francis Pangilinan a job),” he added.

Aquino appointed Pangilinan as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization during his term.

Roque said with the NFA now under the DA, there should also be more “efficient” determination on the factors, which would require the importation of rice.

“Inaasahan natin na mas magiging efficient ang determination kung kelan kinakailangan mag angkat ng bigas dahil ang datos mismo ay hawak ng Department of Agriculture kung magkano ang nai-produce ng mga lokal na magsasaka at kung magkano pa ang kinakailangan maangkat (We expect that there would be a more efficient determination when there is a need to import rice because the DA now keeps the data on how much rice our local farmers produce and how much we need to import),” Roque said.

Roque pointed out that the DA should now be able to streamline the importation process amid issues concerning the country’s rice supply.

DA should also ensure that there is enough supply and protect local farmers from cheaper rice imports, he added.

On Wednesday, Duterte signed EO No. 62, which returns the NFA and two other agencies to the DA after floating the idea last April.

The EO also reorganizes the NFA Council by designating the DA Secretary as chairman of the council, the NFA Administrator as vice chairman, and a representative from the OP, and the Secretaries of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, and Social Welfare and Development as members of the council.

Other members of the council include the Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, President of the Land Bank of the Philippines, and a representative from the farmers’ sector.