New NFA, PCA heads named

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed a former corporate executive as the new administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA) and a career government official as the head of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

Former San Miguel Foods Inc. president Arthur Juan, who also worked as president of Monterey Food Corp., was named NFA chief while Romulo Arancon, former acting director of PCA-Region 11, was appointed PCA head.

Juan and Arancon replaced Orlan Calayag and Euclides Forbes, respectively, who resigned from their posts last month, less than a week after former senator Francis Pangilinan was appointed presidential assistant for food security and agricultural modernization.

Under Executive Order 165 which the President signed on May 5, the NFA, PCA, National Irrigation Administration and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority were placed under Pangilinan’s watch.

“In general, he has worked in the private sector both here and abroad, with focus on the agro-industrial side for almost 20 years,” Pangilinan said of Juan. “His experience and expertise, having run a national food conglomerate, will be a great help in ensuring that NFA is managed efficiently and effectively.”

Pangilinan said Arancon brings with him more than three decades of experience in the coconut industry, having been part of the PCA for 17 years.

“He is undeniably fit for the position. He will be able to manage the agency very well, as he is very familiar with the workings in the coconut industry,” he said.

Arancon also served as the executive director of the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community from 2006 until 2014. The APCC is an inter-governmental body organized in 1969 under the aegis of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific with headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. The APCC is composed of 18 coconut-growing countries in Asia and the Pacific region.

Pangilinan said the appointment of Juan and Arancon is upon the recommendation of the search committee that he created when he assumed office.

The committee is composed of former socio-economic planning secretary and director general of the National Economic and Development Authority Cielito Habito, former agriculture secretary Senen Bacani, executive director of the Center for Food and Agribusiness and former dean of the School of Management at the University of Asia and the Pacific Rolando Dy and Fiorello Estuar, vice chairman and chief executive officer of First Balfour.

Juan was president of SMFI from 2005 to 2009, project director of the Integrated Agro-Industrial Zone from 2003 to 2005, president of Monterey Foods from 1999 to 2003, general manager of SMFI poultry business from 1996 to 1999 and also general manger of SMFI feeds business from 1993 to 1996. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1968.– With Aurea Calica