PCAFI Wants NFA Powers Restored

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) is urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to restore the mandate of the National Food Authority (NFA) or allow the agency to procure palay (unmilled rice) to help control the price of the commodity.

PCAFI President Danilo Fausto said that the NFA should also be given the power to procure sugar, onions, and other basic commodities to help properly manage the country's supply of agricultural products.

PCAFI President Danilo Fausto said that the NFA should also be given the power to procure sugar, onions, and other basic commodities to help properly manage the country's supply of agricultural products.

To achieve that, Fausto lobbied for the amendment of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) "to provide more flexibility in the use of the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF)."

"All basic commodities, as well as onions and sugar, [the NFA] can get involved, but what's important is that when there is a shortage, NFA is ready to come in," Fausto told reporters.

The RTL or Republic Act (RA) 11203 was enacted in 2019 and transformed the role of the NFA into a buffer stocking agency. It also liberalized the importation, exportation, and trading of rice.

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