Palace official says NFA Council won’t be abolished

President Rodrigo Duterte is not abolishing the policy-setting National Food Authority (NFA) Council, a Malacañang official said on Tuesday.

Duterte’s spokesperson, Harry Roque, made the statement after the President’s meeting with the NFA Council and rice retailers in Malacañang late Monday.

Reports have it that during a meeting with rice retailers on April 5 the President expressed his desire to abolish the NFA Council, which decides on matters and policies of the NFA administration led by Jason Aquino, particularly on rice importation.??

“The NFA Council will not be abolished,” Roque said.

Roque said earlier Duterte was informed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea that the council can only be removed through legislation as it is a creation of Marcos-era Presidential Decree 1770.

During the NFA Council meeting in Malacañang on Monday, Roque said the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) asked to be relieved from the council, “so that it may focus on its other projects, which request was approved.”

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development will take the place of DBP,” Roque said.

Roque confirmed that NFA, the Philippine Coconut Authority, and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority will be turned into attached agencies of the DA.

These agencies are currently under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary and NFA Council chairperson Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr.

Roque did not delve into Evasco’s status in the NFA Council.

Around 250,000 metric tons of imported rice is expected to arrive in May to replenish the NFA’s buffer stock.

Subsequent rice importation will be to be done under a government-to-private scheme, and the auction and importation will be implemented and supervised by the Executive Council Committee headed by the Office of the President, Roque said. —VDS, GMA News