Grains - 3rd Quarter : 2012 - NFA

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4 Grainsnotes Life begins Before I’m turning 40 soon. They say life begins at 40. I don’t have to wait for that date to enjoy life though. I try to live each day like it’s my last. Don’t wait for a special occasion to treat yourself, a good friend said. Just indulge. Wear your favorite dress. Eat your favorite food. You can do these without waiting for your age to turn four decades. I came across these words somewhere: Love fully, laugh uncontrollably, don’t mind those who don’t matter to you, don’t sweat on the small stuff, let go easily, give unconditionally. For some people, maybe this is hard to do. But come to think of it, once you start putting these words to heart, making them a part of you becomes effortless. It’s like turning a vision into reality. Just like the NFA. The food agency will also turn 40 this year. Ever since, the NFA has been living up to its mission of food security and price stabilization. Some say the NFA is no longer as relevant as it was 20 years ago. I have only been a part of this agency in 2000 and I never had a single doubt of its role. For as long as there is one Filipino who consumes rice, the NFA is needed. For as long as there is one farmer who cultivates the soil, the NFA is needed. In other words, the NFA is needed whatever time or season. Then I look back to the 2008 episodes where herds of ordinary citizens lined up just to get a kilo or two of NFA rice. Suddenly, the cheap NFA rice became a star. I don’t think the private traders would do the same valiant act. They will not sell their stocks at a price low enough for the ordinary Juan and Juana dela Cruz to afford. No way, Jose! Quezon Representative Erin Tañada introduced a bill in Congress that will not only strengthen the NFA but hopes to revive the agency from when it was primarily created 40 years ago. Personally, I believe House Bill 5292, introduced by Representatives Tañada, Wilfredo Mark Emberga and Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, will revitalize a new NFA. Section 19, Chapter 4 of the said Bill specifically renames the NFA to Grains Stabilization Authority giving it additional regulatory powers, responsibilities and budget to cope with the challenges of both domestic and international trade and to achieve the national goal to be self-sufficient in rice and corn. Under this Bill, the NFA will be mandated to buy no less than 15% of palay production annually, directly from the farmers and farmers’ cooperatives. I guess it’s not wishful thinking to hope that this Bill becomes a law before the NFA turns another 40. This year, as we celebrate our 40 th year, let’s remember the things that made us feel great about NFA. Some of us have spent half of our lives here. While others found their best friends, some have found romance. The NFA helped send kids to school, fed mouths, built houses, transformed dreams to reality. On our 40 th year, it’s only fitting to find a good reason to thank the NFA. Lina
Anniversary Message 5 It is with great honor and privilege to greet the National Food Authority as it celebrates its 40th Milestone Anniversary on September 26, 2012. Throughout the years, NFA withstood storms, floods, droughts, calamities, food crises, and other challenges as the vast majority of the unsung men and women of NFA struggled and worked hard, sacrificing a lot, to fulfill the agency’s mandate of safeguarding and promoting our country’s food security and rice production to serve the interests of both the farmers and the consuming public. Admittedly, the NFA had its own problems, just like any institution. These problems served as springboards for lessons learned, adjustments made, and challenges overcome. Thus, from a record 2.25 million metric tons of rice imported by NFA in 2010 before the presidency of His excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, only 200,000 metric tons was imported by NFA in 2011, and further reduced to onl;y 120,000 metric tons in 2012. Bulk of the two year’s importations were this time done by the private sector, which translated to huge earnings for the agency in the form of service fees. From only P101 million service fees paid by private importers to NFA in 2010, service fees earned by NFA increased to P1.55 billion in 2011 and P2.64 billion in 2012! NFA bought imported rice at a lower price average of $150 per metric ton compared to NFA’s 2010 purchases for a total approximate savings of $48 million of P2.064 billion in a span of two years, on top of the P4.19 billion cash earnings of NFA from service fees collected in the past two years. It therefore goes without saying that NFA’s total indebtedness has been drastically reduced by more than P15 billion and NFA’s total losses reduced by more than P12 billion. To the NFA-Employees Association headed by Mr. Roman Sanchez, my sincerest appreciation for all your untiring efforts in helping management unite and professionalize NFA. May the National Food AUthority continue to grow and overcome obstacles as it perseveres to face the challenges ahead. As in all agencies, the organization is only as good as its people and NFA has some of the finest and ablest men and women I have worked with. To all of you, I wish to say that it has been an honor and privilege to have served with you. ANGELITO T. BANAYO Administrator
Page 2 and 3: On the cover The NFA’s 40th anniv
Page 6 and 7: 6 Across the Country NFA Celebrates
Page 8 and 9: 8 Across the Country PFAC MEETING.
Page 10 and 11: 10 Across the Country Region 5 assi
Page 12 and 13: 12 Across the Country submitted bef
Page 14 and 15: 14 Across the Country training on g
Page 16 and 17: 16 Across the Country NCR NFA Provi
Page 18 and 19: 18 Features Call time was set at 5:
Page 20 and 21: 20 Features What’s in store for N
Page 24 and 25: 24 Special Feature The creation of
Page 26 and 27: Volume 40 No. 3 July - September 20
Page 32 and 33: 32 Features T HEY M AKE NFA PROUD .
Page 38 and 39: 38 Features Manager ruben manatad:

Grains - 3rd Quarter : 2012 - NFA

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