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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular S¢ ) 18 APRIB P5 56

SENATE
REGEN.)
s.No, 1782 &.

Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AS
CHAIRPERSON OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE NATIONAL FOOD
AUTHORITY

Explanatory Note

The National Grains Authority was created under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 4, s. 1972
and became the National Food Authority (NFA) through PD No. 1770, s. 1981. Its mandate is to
ensure national food security and stabilize supply and prices of staple cereals both in the farm
and consumer levels. By virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 398, s. 1997, NFA shall intervene
in the stabilization of sugar prices, including the procurement of sugar when necessary.
Furthermore, EO No. 22, s. 1998 authorized NFA to include in its scope the marketing operation
of other basic food items.

In 2014, EO No. 165 transferred the NFA together with National Irrigation
Administration, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to the
Office of the President. Furthermore, Memorandum Order No. 70, s. 2014 provided oversight
responsibilities over the aforesaid agencies to the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and
Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM). Pursuant to EO No. 1, s. 2016, NFA, together with
eleven (11) other agencies from OPAFSAM, were subsequently transferred to the Office of the
Cabinet Secretary.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pifiol, who, back in 2016 wanted NFA along with the
National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and Fertilizer
and Pesticide Authority (FPA) to be reintegrated back to the DA, said that there was “absolutely
no sense in separating the NFA, NIA, FPA and PCA from the DA.”' What is worse is that the
Secretary of Agriculture is not even part of the current NFA governing board.

Thus, this bill seeks to correct the current composition of the NFA governing board by
mandating the Secretary of Agriculture to sit as its ex-officio Chairperson to ensure the
coordination and harmonization of NFA’s programs and policies to the agriculture industry's
overall strategic development.

" Manila Times (July 6, 2016). Good—NIA, NFA and PCA again under Agriculture Department. Information
-nfa-and-pca-again-under =



In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RAI GRE!

/mabm



CeoVaunesune

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

ENATE

s.No. 1782

Introduced by Senator Ralph G, Recto

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AS.
CHAIRPERSON OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE NATIONAL FOOD
AUTHORITY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 6 of Presidential Decree No. 1770, s. 1981 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 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 SECRETARY OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC AN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
The Governor, {Central Bank of the Philippines] BANGKO SENTRAL NG
PILIPINAS

The [Chairman] CHAIRPERSON, Development Bank of the Philippines
[The President, Philippine National Bank]

The President, Land Bank of the Philippines

A Representative of the Office of the President

A FARMER SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE

The [Chairman] CHAIRPERSON shall be the [Minister of Human Settlements}
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE and the Vice-[Chairman] CHAIRPERSON
shall be the Administrator of the National Food Authority. The Administrator of the
National Food Authority shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the
Philippines.

XXX."

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.



34 SEC. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication
35. in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,