16 NFA workers to lose job due to rice tariffication 

SIXTEEN employees of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Western Visayas will be losing their jobs once the rice tariffication law is fully implemented.

Of the figure, three are from NFA-Negros Occidental working under industry regulations and enforcement divisions.

Maverick Misajon, president of NFA Employees Association (NFAEA) in Western Visayas, said this might be a "gradual layoff" for now.

Misajon, also the president of NFAEA in Negros Occidental, said there could be additional employees to be displaced from work once the law's effectivity is in full swing.

"These employees are now in a sort of floating status pending the final version of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR)," he said, adding that the final IRR drafted by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) is supposed to be issued last week.

On February 14, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11203, or the Rice Import and Export Liberalization Law.

The law liberalizing the local rice industry then took effect on March 5. Import restrictions on rice are already lifted.

It has also removed the regulatory functions of the agency over international and domestic trading of rice.

The NFA can no longer act on licensing and registration of persons and entities engaged in the grains business, and collection of regulatory fees.

Other functions stripped from the agency included issuance of negotiable warehouse receipts, warehouse inspection, authority to seize hoarded stocks, and enforce rules and regulations in the grains business.

Based on the summary of personnel affected by the tariffication obtained by NFAEA, there are 283 employees of NFA nationwide who will lose their jobs, of which, 171 are under industry regulation, 101 in enforcement and 11 from foreign operations.

Misajon said these workers are at the mercy of the people in the NFA Council including its chair, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, and those from the Neda and Department of Finance.

Misajon said one if their apprehensions happened: "This mass layoff is just one of the ill-effects of the rice tariffication.”

The NFAEA, during its National Board Conference in Manila earlier this month, passed a resolution condemning the measure citing its negative impacts to rice farmers, workers and stakeholders.

Misajon said once the final IRR is out, this is the time that they will seek for a temporary restraining order at the Supreme Court.

"Our protest activities will continue including the black protest every Monday to express our indignation against the anti-people step of the government," he added.

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