Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 21) — The rice tariffication law removed the regulatory powers of the National Food Authority (NFA), resulting in the need to retrench hundreds of employees.
Agriculture Secertary Emmanuel Piñol said the separation package for the more than 800 soon-to-be-retrenched employees has yet to be finalized.
“The compensation package stipulated in the implementing rules and regulations, the workers will receive 1.5 months of payment for every year of service. But some employees pointed out that there is a law which cover the compensation of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) or former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao employees in the creation of the BARMM law na nagbibigay ng two months for every year of service,” Piñol said.
He said the Deparment of Budget and Management and the Governance Commission for Government Owned or Controlled Corporations will come up with the decision on the compensation for the workers.
The National Economic Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry are seeking to reduce the number of NFA regional offices.
The rice tariffication law is meant to reduce the market price of rice by easing import restrictions on the staple.
It removed the regulatory powers of the NFA to liberalize rice trade.
CNN Philippines correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this story.
