IN THE KNOW: NFA created in January 1981

The National Food Authority (NFA), created through Presidential Decree No. 1770 in January 1981, is mandated to promote the integrated growth and development of the grains industry and to provide food security and stability of supply and prices of grains.

In 1987, the NFA was detached from the Office of the President (OP) and was realigned under the Department of Agriculture to respond to policy changes with emphasis on private sector participation.

It was returned to OP supervision in 2014 and was reassigned to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary in 2016.

Since 1997, the agency has undertaken the procurement of sugar when necessary, and in 1998 its scope expanded to marketing operation of other basic food items.

It received a subsidy of P4.25 billion from the national government in 2015 and 2016, according to the Commission on Audit report.

The NFA has 15 regional offices and 86 provincial offices. Of its authorized 4,436 plantilla positions, 4,124 were filled as of December 2016. —INQUIRER RESEARCH

SOURCE: COMMISSION ON AUDIT