THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
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1. I i 
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First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
. S.B. NO 
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Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPIJANATORY NOTE 
The National Food Authority (NFA) is one of the critical agencies of the 
government tasked to ensure continuous and adequate food supply and to maintain 
pricks of food at an affordable level for the common people. 
One of the recurring problems of the nation is rice shortage. Thus, NFA was 
established as a successor to the National Grains Authority and the National Rice 
Corporation to enable government to regulate the activities of rice traders as well as to 
regulate the cost and price of rice. 
As presently constituted, the NFA Council dies not include any representative 
from the farmers as well as the private sector, representing the interests of rice 
consumers and entrepreneurs engaged in rice production. 
Under Presidential Decree No. 4 issued on September 26, 1972, entitled, 
“Providing for the Development of the Rice and Corn Industry and Crbating for this 
purpose the National Grains Authority”, a representative from the! consuming sector and 
traders were included in the composition of the National Grains Industry Development 
Council. Subsequently, with the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 1485 on June 11 , 
1978, further amending certain provisions of the National Grains Industry Development 
Act, representation from the rice producers and rice and corn millers and traders was 
deleted. On January 14, 1981 , Presidential Decree No. 1770, entitled, “Reconstituting 
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the National Grains Authority to the National Food Authority, Broadening its Functions 
and Powers and for the other purposes” was issued which, likewise, deleted 
representation from the following sectors, namely, the consuming sector and the 
representatives from the rice producers and rice and corn millers and traders. 
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It is necessary to include farmers and private sector in the Council to assist in the 
formulation of policies and strategies to maintain stable rice supply at affordable prices 


and likewise in the development of pricing policies, the employment of rice production 
technology as well as in the implementation of import and export mechanism sensitive 
to the problems and concern or rice growers and rice consumers. 
Likewise, the 
representation of these particular sectors will enable the Council to reduce bureaucratic 
practices because they are aware of the problem on a first hand basis and have the 
expertise, experience as well as the desire for immediate results to cut through red 
tape. 
This bill seeks to achieve above mentioned objectives by including 
representatives from the farmers and the private sector in the NFA Council. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
.,h 
First Regular Session 
1 
, .. .<,. 
’ ’ 
g4ECE rVEn BY : 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE INCLUSION OF REPRESENTATIVES FRON THE PRIVATE 
SECTOR AND FARMERS ORGANIZATION IN THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY 
COUNCIL AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1770, AS 
AMENDED AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. Section 6 of P.D. No. 1770 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Sec. 6. - Composition of the National Food Authority Council - 
The Council shall be composed of the following: 
[The Minister of Human Settlements] 
The Administrator, National Food Authority; 
The [Minister] SECRETARY of Agriculture; 
The [Minister] SECRETARY of Finance; 
The [Minister] SECRETARY of Trade and Industry; 
[The Minister of Trade] 
The Governor, Central Bank of the Philippines; 
The Chairman, Development Bank of the Philippines; 
A Representative of the Office of the President; 
A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CONSUMING SECTOR; 
A 
REPRESENTATIVE FROM A 
LEGITIMATE 
FARMERS 
0 RGAN IZAT IO N 
The Chairman shall be the [Minister of Human Settlements] SECRETARY OF 
AGRICULTURE and the Vice-chairman shall be the Administrator of the National Food 
Authority. The Administrator of the National Food Authority shall be appointed by the 
President of Republic of the Philippines. 


P 
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY LEGITIMATE FARMERS ORGANIZATION 
SHALL BE AT LEAST THIRTY-FIVE (35) YEARS OF AGE, WITH SUFFICIENT 
EXPERIENCE IN FARMING, OR PROVEN HONESTY, INTEGRITY, RECOGNIZED 
COMPETENCE, AND HAS FAMILIARITY OF RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES. 
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONSUMING SECTOR SHALL BE A FILIPINO 
CITIZEN, AT LEAST THIRTY-FIVE (35) YEARS OF AGE, OF PROVEN HONESTY, 
INTEGRITY, AND RECOGNIZED BY THE PHILIPPINES TO HOLD OFFICE FOR A 
TERM OF FOUR YEARS UNLESS SOONER REMOVED FOR CAUSE OR UNTIL 
THEIR SUCCESSORS SHALL HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED AND APPOINTED. 
The Council shall meet regularly at least once a month on any date to be 
determined by the Chairman. Provided: That the Chairman may convene special 
meetings to discuss urgent matters. The Council Members shall be entitled to per diem 
of not less than [EIGHT HUNDRED PESOS (PSOO.OO)] TWO THOUSAND FIVE 
HUNDRED PESOS (P2,500.00) for each meeting actually attended by them and such 
other remuneration as may be determined by the Council. 
The management of the Authority shall be vested in an Administrator who shall 
have the rank of a [Minister] SECRETARY and shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy 
Administrators and as many Assistant Administrators as may be determined by the 
Council and whose respective qualifications shall be the same as those provided for in 
the said Decree. 
The Administrator shall receive 7 compensation, to be determined by the Council 
in accordance with provisions of pertindnt compensation law. 
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SECTION 2. Such sum as may: be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act shall be included in the General Apdropriations Act. 
SECTION 3. All existing laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and 
regulations of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days following its publication in 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,