QUEZON, Nueva Ecija – A former official of the National Food Authority (NFA) on Monday called for the expansion of functions of the government-run food agency amid pressures from some quarters to shut it down.
Former NFA Administrator Eduardo Nonato Joson, also a former governor of this prime rice producing province, said that NFA functions should be extended to marketing other agri-based food products.
“Dapat i-extend pa nga ang functions as a national marketing agency for locally produced agricultural products,” Joson said. Among those products, he said, are copra and vegetables.
He was reacting to calls for the abolition of NFA which is being hounded by controversies of alleged over importation and over-pricing.
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III also alleged that “one person or group” has benefited from the contracts entered into by private importers.
Joson, however, noted that some people extract money from NFA transactions.
“Matagal nang may commissions sa lahat ng importations at trading din ang ginagawa ng NFA,” he said.
Joson was among the appointed officials who jumped ship even before the move to unseat Estrada from Malacañang broke out. He resigned as NFA administrator and since created an anti-corruption advocacy group Citizens Power Movement (CPM).
He also pressed for further allowing the private sector to participate in rice importation.
“Solusyon? privatize rice importation or bayaan ang private sector na mag import,” Joson said.
But the government, he stressed, should remove its guarantee and instead impose a lower rice tariff.
Former NFA Administrator Eduardo Nonato Joson, also a former governor of this prime rice producing province, said that NFA functions should be extended to marketing other agri-based food products.
“Dapat i-extend pa nga ang functions as a national marketing agency for locally produced agricultural products,” Joson said. Among those products, he said, are copra and vegetables.
He was reacting to calls for the abolition of NFA which is being hounded by controversies of alleged over importation and over-pricing.
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III also alleged that “one person or group” has benefited from the contracts entered into by private importers.
Joson, however, noted that some people extract money from NFA transactions.
“Matagal nang may commissions sa lahat ng importations at trading din ang ginagawa ng NFA,” he said.
Joson was among the appointed officials who jumped ship even before the move to unseat Estrada from Malacañang broke out. He resigned as NFA administrator and since created an anti-corruption advocacy group Citizens Power Movement (CPM).
He also pressed for further allowing the private sector to participate in rice importation.
“Solusyon? privatize rice importation or bayaan ang private sector na mag import,” Joson said.
But the government, he stressed, should remove its guarantee and instead impose a lower rice tariff.
