End is near for NFA Council – Duterte

FILE- INQUIRER PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday revealed that he is planning to recommend the abolition of the National Food Authority (NFA) Council amid the increase in prices of rice in the market.

“I will recommend to Congress the abolition of the National Food Council. It has no purpose,” Duterte said during his nationally televised discussion with Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo in Malacañang.

The NFA Council, which was headed by the NFA chief, decides how the NFA should act, including when to import and the mode of importation. The council earlier drew flak for allegedly acting late, which led to the spike in the prices of rice.

READ: Duterte looking for new NFA chief after Jason Aquino asked to be relieved

Duterte’s remark came after inflation reached a new nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August, which economic managers attributed to the increase in prices of fuel, rice, fish, and vegetables.

The President added that his economic managers were “working” on taming ever-increasing rise in prices of commodities, noting that he would preside over a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday night to tackle inflation.

“Ang inflation rate, medyo mataas. The economic managers are working on it. We are having a Cabinet meeting right after this and I’ll also have the chance to ask some questions,” Duterte said. /muf