NFA chief wants rules on rice exports eased

National Food Authority Administrator Arthur C. Yap wants Congress to amend Presidential Decree No. 4 or the NFA Charter to allow the agency to export high value fancy or organically-grown.

Yap noted that PD4 allows the export of rice only if there is a surplus.

"The incentives for farmers to produce these higher valued rice for exports is therefore curtailed. During this period of trade liberalization wherein virtually all foreign products are allowed to be imported into the county, export restrictions on Filipino farmers are totally unfair," Yap said.

Yap wants Section 6, paragraph (xiii) of PD 4 to be amended by removing the requirement for the certification of a surplus before rice exports are allowed. "We want the farmers to enjoy this program and not make it difficult for them," Yap said.

Yap expressed hopes that the export of rice will no longer require a certification the NFA Council which is composed of the heads of the Office of the President, Department of Agriculture, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine National Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and the NFA.

"The NFA wants to do away with setbacks against the Farmers as Importers program and other programs of the agency requiring such certification. Thus, if the farmers want to export or import, they can do so without the need of any certification which only slows down the process" Yap said.