THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental continued to refuse to transfer from Capitol lot to Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, despite the repeated requests from Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.
The NFA provincial office, situated on Gatuslao St., Bacolod City, sits on a property adjacent to the Capitol lot covered by the deed of absolute sale and lease contract between the Province and Ayala Land Inc.
NFA provincial manager Procopio Trabajo II said that the NFA possesses a deed of donation and land title.
Trabajo said transferring their office to Bago will pose danger to their employees, especially those who have to withdraw large amounts and travel back to the office. He added the distance is quite far. He also reiterated
Bago, known as the rice bowl of Negros Occidental for its vast rice plantations, is about 21.5 kilometers south of Bacolod.
Also located in Tabunan is the Negros Occidental District Jail (formerly Provincial Jail), which used to occupy the Capitol lot beside the NFA provincial office in Bacolod. The village, which is also the site of the OISCA Training Center Sericulture Project, hosts five rice mills.
Trabajo’s stand prompted the governor to say that NFA’s concern is only their own convenience.
"This is the only NFA (office) that has no drying area. It would be up to them to solve future problems when the development project starts in the area," Marañon said.
The Provincial Government earlier sent notices to the NFA, informing Trabajo that they could later have difficulties because the road lots along its office and warehouse would become part of the Ayala Land development.
The driveway leading to the warehouse will be closed once the development in the area beside it starts.