Grains - 3rd Quarter : 2012 - NFA

Editorial
3
Reasons to
celebrate
TODAY, September 26, the National Food Authority marks its 40 th
anniversary with the passion, warmth and vitality of a ruby.
Ruby, so-called king of the gemstones represents the number 40 when
referring to anniversary or birthday celebrations. One of the most valuable
gemstones, ruby possesses an eternal inner flame which symbolizes passion,
love and vivacity, warmth and strong sense of vitality. It has everything a
precious stone should have: magnificent color, excellent hardness and
outstanding brilliance.
Throughout its existence, the NFA has become the gem that
continuously sparks passion and dynamism, warmth and sense of responsibility
in the food industry. Being in the forefront of a volatile industry, the NFA has,
to this day, been fraught with challenges that only ignite its commitment and
dedication to protect and preserve the strength and stability of rice - a political
commodity which happens to be the staff of life of half of the world’s
population including the Filipinos.
Rice, as the object of NFA’s mission, necessitates a truly responsive and
resolute development policy and full support from the national government
that would ensure its availability, affordability and accessibility despite the
daunting odds that continue to inflict harm on the very existence of the food
agency. A stable NFA existence means a stable rice industry. Rice represents
the Filipinos’ basic need for food and symbolizes food security.
On its 40 th year, the NFA reiterates its commitment with as much faith
and hope to give the Filipino people the rice that they deserve through
meaningful reforms that aim for satisfactory savings and respectable earnings
for the agency, greater private sector participation, less importation in favor of
intensified local procurement and enhanced domestic production.
Further reforms are happening within the agency that would sustain
supply and price stability of the staple food, farmer empowerment, availability
of rice during man-made and natural calamities, rice fortification, pro-poor
programs and shift from “buy high, sell low” to full-cost recovery”.
Reforms in the various aspects of NFA operations are meant to support
the development agenda being espoused by the Aquino administration tungo
sa matuwid na landas. The NFA hopes to achieve a level of stability that will
highlight even more its role and contribution in the food industry. The ultimate
objective is to transform the NFA into a more cost-effective government agency
that will safeguard national food security through efficient and sustainable
execution of its mandates.
Indeed, there is a striking parallelism between NFA and ruby. Ruby’s
brilliant red color and excellent hardness are qualities that resemble NFA’s
brilliance and culture of excellence especially among its people who continue
to face the daily rudiments and nuances, the needs and demands, the whys
and wherefores of a precarious industry with persistence and perseverance
guided by a noble mission.
This mission will see NFA through as it looks forward to more good
reasons to celebrate its existence. cla