Mindanao groups: Citizenship issue blot on NFA

DAVAO CITY—Farmers’ groups in Mindanao are now starting to question the capability of the National Food Authority (NFA) in achieving its targets in the government’s rice production program following reports that the agency’s head is not a natural-born Filipino.

Pedro Arnado, head of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Southern Mindanao, said reports that Orlan Calayag, NFA administrator, reacquired his American citizenship during his appointment as head of the NFA say much about why the NFA does not appear to be effective in helping farmers cope with a myriad of problems confronting the agriculture sector.

Arnado said Calayag, having dual citizenship, may not be the most qualified to head the NFA because his interest may not be with the Filipino farming community.

“[This could be why] top officials of the NFA are using their positions for their own selfish ends,” said Arnado in a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“[His] acquiring of US citizenship is a big insult to the Filipino people,” said Arnado.

“Malaking kalokohan ito (This is a big joke),” Arnado said of Calayag’s appointment as NFA head.

In Davao del Sur, even the government-backed Albatana Irrigators Association of Magsaysay town, which has about 130 members, said that because Calayag could not feel the hardship experienced by Filipino farmers, he could not be relied on to protect the interests of farmers.

“His appointment as NFA administrator is already a form of betrayal to farmers,” said Cherlito de la Cruz, the group’s chair.

As a form of protest, he said farmers belonging to the irrigators’ association would stop selling their harvests to the NFA.

“Rice traders buy our palay at much higher prices anyway,” he said.

Magsaysay town is considered one of Davao del Sur’s rice granaries with about 4,000 farmers.

It also prides itself in producing the so-called Magsaysay rice, which commands higher prices in the market because of its physical characteristics when milled and its adequate moisture content that makes it soft but firm when cooked.

Reports said Calayag has reacquired his Filipino citizenship only in the same month of his appointment as NFA administrator.

Calayag is close to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Leaders of other militant groups earlier called on President Aquino to remove Calayag from the NFA over the citizenship issue. The NFA charter requires its head to be a natural-born Filipino. Germelina Lacorte and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao