President Duterte places NFA, two other agencies under DA anew

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has returned the National Food Authority and two other agencies under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sept. 19, Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol said apart from the NFA, also returned were the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority, which had been placed under the Office of the President by then-President Benigno Aquino III.

The reorganization was made possible by Executive Order No. 62, which was signed by President Duterte on Sept. 17, and released by Malacañang on Wednesday.

According to Pinol, the EO also reorganized the NFA Council, such that the Secretary of Agriculture has become its chairman and the NFA administrator its vice chairman.

Members of the NFA Council include the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of Trade and industry, the Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority the Social Welfare Secretary, the Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the President of Land Bank and a farmers’ sector representative appointed by the President, Pinol said.