The National Food Authority (NFA) Council reviews the proposed NFA restructuring plan during the regular council meeting held on May 16, 2019 at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Office. The restructuring plan is in line with the implementation of the Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Trade Liberalization Act that limited the NFA functions to buffer stocking. Based on the released implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the law, the NFA is given a 60-day transition period from the effectivity of the IRR to restructure or reorganize. “We have to work fast,” NFA Council Chairperson and DA Secretary Manny F. Piñol stressed. He stated that the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) from the new law would be a big help in improving the country’s rice production. Some updates on the NFA rice inventory, procurement, and distribution were also discussed. The NFA Council members from the Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and Development Authority, Farmer Sector, and Land Bank of the Philippines were present during the discussions. (Photo by Alarico Nuestro, DA-AFID)