Amending Executive Orders No. 183 Creating the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC), as Amended By Executive Order No. 596

Case Overview and Summary

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 754

Amending Executive Orders No. 183 creating the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC), as amended by Executive Order No. 596

• Background and Purpose (Whereas clauses):
- NFAC was created by Executive Order No. 183 to coordinate, supervise and integrate government programs on production, stabilization, distribution, and marketing of rice, corn, and other prime food commodities.
- NFAC has been effective in achieving rice self-sufficiency and coordinating food and agricultural development.
- Due to tight world food situation and increased oil prices, there is a need for NFAC to intensify and expand its food and agricultural thrusts and strategies.
- There is a need to expand the scope, jurisdiction and authority of NFAC to empower it to administer the expanded functions and activities and strengthen its coordinating capabilities.

• Functions and Powers of NFAC (Section 1):
- Define the goals and scope of the country's food policies, programs and plans on a continuing basis. (Sec. 1a)
- Develop long and short range food development programs based on a multi-disciplinary, inter-agency, and systems approach for various food commodities. (Sec. 1b)
- Establish system of priorities for food production having linkages with research, nutrition, marketing, processing, and financing sectors. (Sec. 1c)
- Provide for a systematic program for the transfer of technology and the development of agricultural extension workers as change agents. (Sec. 1d)
- Provide a mechanism for assessment of progress and adjustments in the implementation of food programs. (Sec. 1e)
- Provide for appropriate incentives/grants to encourage its highly qualified employees to continue serving their respective areas of responsibilities. (Sec. 1f)
- Draw from and negotiate for funds, not otherwise specifically allocated in the National Budget, and all other possible fund sources, for the establishment of sufficient fund resources to support the food self-sufficiency programs. (Sec. 1g)
- Supervise, coordinate and evaluate the activities and accomplishments of all government agencies charged with the prosecution of the different aspects of the food self-sufficiency program. (Sec. 1h)
- Coordinate the release of public funds in accordance with approved programs and projects in food. (Sec. 1h)
- Call on any ministry, bureau, office, agency and other instrumentalities of the government for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities and other resources as the need arises, during the discharge of its functions. (Sec. 1i)
- Perform other functions as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the national food self-sufficiency program and discharge such other duties as the President may direct. (Sec. 1j)
- Create National Management Committees that shall supervise, coordinate and manage national food programs. (Sec. 1k)

• Composition of the Council (Section 2):
The Council shall be composed of the following officials or duly-accredited representatives:
1. The Minister, Ministry of Agriculture-Chairman-Coordinator
2. The Minister, Ministry of Agrarian Reform
3. The Ministry, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development
4. The Administrator, National Food Authority
5. The Minister, Ministry of the Budget
6. The Minister, Office of Media Affairs
7. The Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources
8. The Governor, Central Bank of the Philippines
9. The Chancellor, University of the Philippines at Los Baños
10. The Director-General, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research
11. The President, Philippine National Bank
12. The President, Land Bank of the Philippines
13. The Chairman, Development Bank of the Philippines
14. The Administrator, National Irrigation Administration
15. The Administrator, Agricultural Credit Administration
16. The Administrator, Farm Systems Development Corporation
17. The Administrator, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority
18. The Executive Director, National Nutrition Council
19. The President, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation
20. The President, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association
21. The President, Federation of Agrarian and Industrial Toiling Hands, Inc./HUKBALAHAP Veterans Association
22. The President, Federation of Farmers Associations of the Philippines
23. The President, Federation of Free Farmers
24. The President, Federation of Land Reform Farmers
25. The President, Katipunan ng mga Magsasaka sa Pilipinas
26. The President, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahang Nayon ng Pilipinas

• Officers of the Council (Section 3):
- The Chairman-Coordinator shall have the power and responsibility of administering, directing and managing the implementation of the policies and programs of the Council.
- An Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director shall be appointed by the Council to implement the policies, programs, projects and decisions of the Council as well as prepare an organizational plan and plantilla of personnel subject to the approval of the Council.
- One or more Assistant Executive Directors may be appointed by the Council and shall assist the Executive Director/Deputy Executive Director in the performance of his duties or take charge of special projects assigned to them.
- The Council shall hire such other personnel as may be necessary for the performance of its basic functions.
- The salaries and other prerequisites of technical and professional staff and such other positions as the Council may declare to be highly technical, policy determining or primarily confidential shall be determined and fixed by the Council.
- All other positions shall be subject to Civil Service rules and regulations and the Wages and Position Classifications Office.
- All personnel shall be entitled to the benefits and privileges normally accorded to government employees, such as retirement, GSIS insurance, leave and similar privileges.
- In appointment and promotion of employees, merit and efficiency shall serve as basis, and no political test or qualification shall be prescribed and considered for such appointments and promotions.
- All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.