NFA chief Lacson warns vs. erring officials
Metro Manila, Philippines - The head of the National Food Authority (NFA) issued a “stern warning” against wrongdoing in the agency after announcing the preventive suspension of at least 25 NFA officials.
In an interview on Wednesday, Aug. 20, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the preventive suspension was issued to the officials pending their investigation for alleged simple misconduct to grave misconduct.
“Doon sa mga cases na unauthorized ‘yong ginawa nila or bakit wala sa logbook, discrepancy sa record, at pinakamatindi dun nasan ‘yong ibang stocks kung kompyutin,” Lacson said.
[Translation: The cases covered included unauthorized transactions or not recorded on the logbook, discrepancy on records, and the severe case may be lost stocks if we compute it.]
The NFA chief explained rice stocks naturally decrease due to reduction of moisture content. But they seek explanation from officials once the decline exceeds the tolerable level of around 2-3 percent.
“‘We will also pursue up to [a] criminal case kung kinakailangan [if needed],” he said.
Lacson wrote on his Facebook account that since his appointment in March 2024, the agency has filed 32 administrative cases and issued 54 show cause orders.
“NFA is not your playground. Hindi natin palalampasin ang mga katiwalian sa [We will not ignore wrongdoing in the] NFA,” Lacson said in a post on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
“Marami pang susunod hanggat hindi tumitigil ang mga tiwali [More will come until wrongdoers do not stop],” he said.
Lacson said preventively suspended officials include staff, warehouse supervisors, branch managers, and assistant branch managers.
According to him, the officials were from Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, and Western Visayas.
Lacson’s warning was also amid a Sangguniang Panlalawigan-led investigation in Isabela on reported irregularities in the NFA’s palay procurement program in the province.
He said that the NFA is looking into the matter, but he also advised stakeholders there to file formal complaints with the agency.
