Incoming Agri chief wants to retake control of NFA, other agencies from Palace

DAVAO CITY, Philippines —  Incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol will push for the rescinding of President Aquino’s executive order (EO) that transferred the National Food Authority (NFA) and three other agencies to the Office of the President from the Agriculture department.  

 

Piñol said the supervision of the NFA, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Fertilizer, and Pesticide Authority (FPA) should be returned to the Agriculture department to ensure well-coordinated policies.

 

“I will recommend to the president that the executive order issued by President Benigno Aquino III which separated NFA, PCA and NIA (from the Agriculture department) be rescinded,” Piñol said in an interview Tuesday here.

 

“You can’t possibly function effectively if the operations are compartmentalized,” he added.

 

Piñol said lack of coordination could lead to unnecessary spending and corruption.

 

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The NFA, PCA, NIA, and FPA were under the Agriculture department until they were transferred to the Office of the President on May 5, 2014 via EO No. 165. Aquino said the transfer was made due to the "need to enhance and coordinate the efforts of the NFA, NIA, PCA and FPA...in fulfilling their respective mandates."

 

The four agencies were placed under the supervision of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, a post created on the same date EO No. 165 was issued.

 

Aquino ally and former Sen. Francis Pangilinan was appointed to the post, which was commonly known as “food security czar.” Critics said the transfer of the NFA, PCA, NIA and FPA reflected Aquino’s dissatisfaction with the performance of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

 

Piñol said the post occupied by Pangilinan would be abolished once EO No. 165 was rescinded.

Meanwhile, Piñol said Duterte has already given him two instructions: Make sure there is affordable food for all Filipinos and stop corruption in the Agriculture department.

 

He said he would ensure that loans and food assistance are given to agriculture workers especially those affected by El Niño.

 

“There will be immediate intervention and soft loaning assistance, I will ask the president to direct the NFA to allocate more funds for the procurement of the surplus production of farmers,” Piñol said, noting that the first harvest after a drought is usually bountiful.

 

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Piñol also cited the need to review the irrigation system so that there would be enough water even during the dry season.

                   

With regard to corruption at the Agriculture department, Piñol noted that the problem is preventing the government from assisting farmers effectively.

 

“I’d like to emphasize that the president had made it clear that corruption will stop in the DA (Department of Agriculture). Rice smuggling will stop. The planning processes should start at the ground level,” the incoming Agriculture chief said.

 

“The corruption in the Department of Agriculture is serious. The mere fact that assistance to hungry farmers do not reach hungry farmers proves that the government is ineffective even if the government has lots of money.

 

Piñol said the DA is an “ill-managed agency that does not respond to needs of Filipino farmers.”

 

“Farming has been a guessing game for Filipino farmers. There is little assistance and little guidance,” he said.