Palace official says Villar ‘blocking’ restoration of NFA power

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro blamed Senator Cynthia Villar, principal author of the Rice Tariffication Law, for the National Food Authority's having no power to purchase palay from local farmers. 

In a press briefing, Castro said it has been the proposal of the administration to give authority to the NFA, however, this provision was not allowed by the senator. 

''Actually po, matagal na po nagkaroon ng proposal ang administrasyon para mabigyan po ng sapat na kapangyarihan ang NFA. Gusto nating ipabatid na kapag po nabigyan natin ng karapatan ang NFA na makapagbenta ng diretso sa taumbayan at makontrol ang presyo ng bigas, hindi po tataas ng ganito ang presyo ng bigas,'' Castro said.

(It has long been a proposal of the administration to provide enough power for the NFA. We want everyone to know that if the NFA has the right to sell to the public and control the price of rice, the price will not increase that much.)

''Dahil sa kasalukuyan po, because of the Rice Tariffication Law na ang author ay Senator Cynthia Villar, ay ang nag-i-import po dito ay mga private companies. Hindi po nahahayaan ang government na mag-import,'' she added. 

(Because of the Rice Tariffication Law authored by Senator Cynthia Villar, private companies are importing rice. The government is not allowed to import.) 

Castro said the Marcos administration has been seeking amendments to the RTL. To recall, the said law limited the NFA’s role to managing the country’s buffer stock of rice.

''So, iyon po ang hindi maganda sa provision na ito. Kaya po noon pa po hinihiling ng administrasyon na magbigay po ng power, magkaroon po ng amendments ang RTL patungkol po sa karapatan at authority at power ng NFA,'' Castro said.

(That's not a good provision. That's why the administration is seeking for amendments on the RTL to give authority and power to the NFA.) 

''Pero, ito ay hinadlangan po ni Senator Cynthia Villar, so kayo na po ang mag-research kung paano ba napapakinabangan ng mga importers, alamin ninyo narin po kung sino ba ang malalakas mag-import ng bigas,'' she added.

(This was blocked by Senator Cynthia Villar, so you do your research on how importers benefit and who are the ones who import rice.) 

The RTL barred the NFA from buying, selling, or importing rice—functions previously aimed at stabilizing market prices and supporting farmer

Castro made the pronouncement on the day Vice President Sara Duterte expressed support for the senatorial bid of Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar, the senator's daughter.

Duterte had said the 12 senatorial candidates whom she supports for the 2025 midterm elections share a “common vision” for the country. — BM, GMA Integrated News