Grains - 3rd Quarter : 2012 - NFA

Sabong now leads Region 7
A change in leadership in an NFA
province or region is highlighted by a
turnover ceremony which depicts a certain
tradition in public service. This exercise
conjures up an image of a public official
accepting responsibility and accountability,
as well as transparency that exposes him
under the gaze and scrutiny of a public eye.
Atty. Efren J. Sabong officially
commenced his duties and function as
regional director of Region VII last June
11 in a simple turnover ceremony held at
the NFA Cebu Multi-purpose Center in
Banilad, Cebu City replacing Regional
Director Atty. Danilo L. Bonabon who is
now assigned at the Industry and Security
Services Department (ISSD) in Central
Office.
Director Sabong is new in the
region, but definitely he is not new to the
overall operations and activities of the NFA
having been with the agency since 1986
starting as Special Assistant to the
Administrator prior to his assignment as
Region 8
Southern Leyte
employees undergo
fire drill
Employees in Southern Leyte
went through a fire drill recently conducted
by the Bureau of Fire and Protection
(BFP). Aimed at preparing the employees
in the event of fire disaster, the fire drill
involved establishing methods of safe and
systematic evacuation during an emergency.
Prior to the fire drill, Fire Officer
Rex Austria lectured on the different kinds
of fire and prevention methods. Senior Fire
Officer Tereso D. Orias demonstrated the
use of fire extinguisher as the initial safety
precaution when fire occurs inside the
office. He also discussed basic fire safety
like leaving the building immediately upon
hearing a fire alarm; walking calmly and
avoiding panic; leaving valuables behind
and assisting handicapped people in leaving
the building.
The employees were divided into
groups and assigned with responsibilities
during the drill. Provincial Manager Isagani
T. Nicandro was tapped as fire brigade chief
who was responsible for all the groups. The
firefighting group was assigned to help in
terminating the fire; the first aid group, on
the other hand, provided first aid to those
affected by fire; the rescue/salvaging group
was assigned to rescue persons or important
things that may still be saved during the
fire; the traffic control group was tasked to
control the crowd to avoid panic and
stampede; the evacuation group was
responsible in finding safety evacuation
areas. (ELISA ALMACIN, correspondent)
Region 7
Director in various departments at Central
Office and Regional Director for quite
some time of Region IV and National
Capital Region.
In his speech, Dir. Sabong said he
was overwhelmed by the warm welcome
accorded him by the employees, just like
the ardent send off given to outgoing
Regional Director Bonabon. He said he is
both happy and sad of his new assignment.
Happy because this is his first assignment
in the Visayas area, Central Visayas
particularly, which is noted as one of the
key cities outside Metro Manila where
people are warm and friendly. He said he
will definitely spend time working in Cebu
with ease and comfort compared to the
amount of activityin Region IV, his previous
assignment where procurement operation
is a lot heavier.
Sad because he will be away from
his family especially his beautiful wife, his
source of inspiration. He said he accepted
his new place of assignment, “just like a
Across the Country
11
good soldier, we have to abide by whatever
is demanded from us for the welfare of
the agency.” He asked the employees to put
more dedication to their work and show
professional competence especially with the
situation confronting the NFA now. He
informed the employees that he will be
travelling to Central Office every now and
then considering that he is also a member
of the National Bids and Awards
Committee.
On the other hand, outgoing
Regional Director Atty. Danilo Bonabon
thanked Region 7 provincial managers and
employees for their unwavering support and
understanding as well as valuable share in
the overall operational activities of the
region. He said leaving Region 7 and the
people whom he has learned to like is a
difficult experience. He accepted his new
place of assignment with utmost humility
keeping in mind to always give the best for
the agency. (LUCY ROSALES,
correspondent)
Manager Isagani T. Nicandro (in striped shirt) and Southern Leyte employees during a fire drill conducted
by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) with the fire truck on the background.
Region 9
RFAC holds quarterly meeting
The Regional Advisory Council
(RFAC) held its 2 nd quarterly meeting at
Region IX Conference Room on June 19,
2012. Provincial Farmers Advisory Council
(PFAC) chairpersons; Regional Licensing
Officer (RLO) Ma. Estrella l. Cabato;
Provincial Licensing Officer (PLO) Mr.
Silverio M. Bandiola; and two NFA regional
employees participated in the meeting.
The meeting opened with a prayer
led by Mr. Bandiola, followed by a welcome
address, after which, the body deliberated
on the following matters:
1. Update on Operational Policy
on the Procurement and Distribution
Program for 2012
2. Search for Outstanding Rice
Farmers Organization of NFA
3. Simplified Requirement for
Institutionalized Procurement Plan
4. Proposed House Bill 5292 or
“The Philippine Farm Security and
Agriculture Competitiveness Act” : for
approval by the Congress.
5. NFA-EA COURAGE Update
6. PFAC’s issues and Concerns
Ms. Cabato emphasized the policy
on palay and corn procurement and
distribution with the importation of rice
being limited in consonance with the
government’s thrust to concentrate more
on local procurement.
She added that with regard to the
issuance of passbook, the NFA shall
shoulder the taking of I.D. picture of the
farmers to be put in their passbooks before
issuance to help lessen the farmer’s
expenses in passbook application.
She said that an AO was issued to
clarify that the only one requirement to be