Grains 1st Quarter 2013.indd - NFA

Orlan
A rice
It’s not every day that a young
and vibrant gentleman is appointed to
head the country’s food markeng arm.
But Orlan Agbin Calayag accepted the
challenge and his life has never been the
same ever since.
For someone who punctuates
his sentences with po and opo, NFA
employees soon found themselves falling
for the 30-something administrator from
Dolores, Quezon. As everyone knows by
now, Administrator Calayag used to be
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala’s
Chief Legislave Officer when the laer
was Representave of Quezon in 2004.
He must have been exceponal in his
dues for him to earn the trust and
confidence of the Secretary. It was Alcala
who personally recommended him to
President Benigno S. Aquino III.
This NGO worker and environmentalist
from Dolores, Quezon is
equipped with the perfect business acumen
having graduated with a Business
Administraon degree major in Business
Markeng. In 2006, he earned a degree
in Real Estate Professional Course from
Rockwell Instute in Bellevue, Washington.
He was Execuve Director of
Progressive Community and Ecological
Services Organizaon, a non-governmental
organizaon giving aid to farmers and
fishermen.
Aer a lile over five months
on the job (this interview was conducted
in mid-June, 2013), let’s get to know our
Administrator on a more personal level in
this Q&A.
Photo by Manuel A. Sadsad
Volume 41 No. 1 January - March 2013