MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) is currently conducting a restructuring process to ensure continued employment for personnel whose work may be affected by the effectivity of the Rice Tariffication Act.
In a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Sunday, NFA officer-in-charge administrator Tomas Escarez said at least 400 employees of the agency will be affected by the changes brought about by the newly-enacted law.
This is because under the implementing rules and regulations of the Rice Tariffication Law, the regulatory power of the NFA to oversee and supervise the domestic grains industry will be removed from the agency, as well as functions related to rice importation.
“Nakikita natin na mga 400 ‘yung automatic na maaapektuhan at ito ay may kinalaman sa regulatory, ‘yung naglilisensya, nagrerehistro, nagmo-monitor ng bigas sa buong bansa. Bale nasa 400 ito,” Escarez said.
The only function that will be left with the NFA would be to ensure sufficient buffer stocking, Escarez said.
“So most likely iaayos natin ‘yung number of personnel at kasalukuyang ginagawa ‘yan namin,” Escarez said.
“Meron kaming proseso ng restructuring para malaman ‘yung bilang ng empleyado ang kailangan dito sa present situation namin na kung saan buffer stocking na lang ang gagawin ng NFA,” he added.
The Rice Tariffication Law effectively removes the quantitative restrictions on rice and imposes a 35-percent tariff on imports from the country’s neighbors in Southeast Asia.
This measure therefore allows unlimited importation of rice as long as private sector traders secure a phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the 35-percent tariff for shipments from neighbors in Southeast Asia.
Escarez, however, assured that NFA employees who may be affected by the law can avail of remedies to ensure continued work.
“Una, nakalagay sa implementing rules, those who will be affected may avail of compensation package. Pagkatapos tinitignan namin ‘yung co-terminus status na hangga’t nandiyan ang empleyado, ayaw niyang umalis, dapat nandiyan siya,” he said.
“Ginawa rin dati under EO (executive order) 366 na mag-reorganize ang gobyerno, you avail of compensation package on a co-terminus status,” he added.
Escarez also allayed fears that the local farming industry will be affected with the effectivity of the Rice Tariffication Act.
He said that according to the lawmakers who crafted the law, P10 billion would be allocated from the tariffs collected from the rice imports to be used for the benefit of the local farmers.
At the same time, local farmers will be receiving a 40-percent return of investment (ROI) from their produce, Escarez said.
“Sa P20 per kilo na pamimili, halos mahigit 40 percent ang ROI nito kung ang presyo na ginagastos ng ating magsasaka sa kanilang pagtatanim ay umaabot sa P12 kada kilo at bibilhin natin ito nang P20.70 [per kilo], mahigit na 40 porsyento ‘yung return of investment ng ating magsasaka,” he said.
“Sa panig naman namin para tiyakin lang na ‘yung mga murang bigas sa labas ay may papadalhan sila, at ‘yun ang National Food Authority,” he added.
Anakpawis party-list representative Ariel Casilao earlier said that a bill is set to be filed before the House of Representatives seeking to repeal the Rice Tarrification Act.
He added that he would also seek relief from the Supreme Court once the law has disrupted the functions of the NFA related to the rice industry.
“Kapag napirmahan na ang IRR at meron nang aktwal na pagkatanggal o pagkawala ng iisa man lang na function ng NFA, maaari na rin itong tungtungan para maihain na rin natin ang ating Declaratory Relief Petition sa Korte Suprema,” Casilao said. (GMA News)
