DA chief says RTL amendments won’t restore ‘full power’ of NFA

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. clarified Tuesday that the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) do not necessarily seek to bring back the “full power” of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Speaking at the Senate’s Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization, Laurel said RTL amendments merely allow NFA to sell rice at a lower price if necessary.

Senator Cynthia Villar immediately flagged the proposed move, citing instances of alleged corruption hounding the NFA.

READ: Scrutinize plan to re-allow NFA to buy and sell rice, senators say 

Earlier, Villar emphasized that no one wants to discard RTL but she expressed apprehension about empowering the NFA again.

“The real intention is not to give full power back to the NFA, but use NFA only as a conduit to operationalize certain moments of intervention maybe once or twice a year. But not through the authority of anybody in the NFA,” explained the Department of Agriculture (DA) chief.

The NFA is an attached agency of the DA.

READ: Cynthia Villar says no one wants to discard Rice Tariffication Law

“I also do not like what you’ve flagged about NFA—even I am allergic to that. If possible, we don’t want to use this provision by the authority. It’s only as a last resort that we need to import, but on the authority of the secretary or two secretaries of the Cabinet kung kinakailangan (if needed),” Laurel added in mixed English and Filipino.

Senator Imee Marcos, who was also present during the meeting, said she agrees with Laurel.

“Yan din ang nirecommend din namin na kung maaari [ay] may kumpuni ng Presidential Commission on Rice Sufficiency. Kasi walang wala nang tiwala ang sinumang mambabatas dito sa Senado at gayon din ang mga magsasaka,” she said.

(That’s what we also recommended that if possible there’s a Presidential Commission on Rice Sufficiency. Because lawmakers here in the Senate and farmers no longer trust the NFA.)

Marcos emphasized that the NFA shouldn’t intervene, saying she is certain that discrepancies will occur once the NFA enters the picture.

“Hindi naman kailangan na sa pang araw-araw na pagtatakbo [ay] ang Pangulo ang makikialam. Maaari naman ‘yung ating kagawaran mismo ang tututok dyan. ‘Wag lang NFA kasi naririnig pa lang namin eh nangangatog na ang tuhod namin,” she said.

(There is no need for the President to interfere in the day-to-day operation. Maybe our DA will focus on that. Not just the NFA because merely hearing about it makes out knees shake.)

House lawmakers earlier said amendments to RTL will enable the NFA to stabilize rice prices.