THE initiative of the top officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) in northern Metro Manila is quite laudable when they partnered with the four local governments in Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) aimed at making their actions synchronized especially during disaster.
This writer couldn’t help marvelling at the efforts of NFA Northern District Office Manager Jaime Hadlocon and Asst. District Manager Pedro ‘Jojo’ Muncada who make sure that they get their acts together by tying up with the key local officials.
Talking straight on the matter, the duo have forged a memorandum of agreement with Mayors Oca Malapitan (Caloocan), Lenlen Oreta (Malabon), John Rey Tiangco (Navotas) and Rex Gatchalian (Valenzuela) to ensure unhampered distribution of rice to the affected residents during typhoons and other calamities.
We’ve found out that the LGUs except for Malabon have already sent back the MOA to NFA indicating they’re unison with the district office’s desire to guarantee an unimpeded distribution of rice during disaster.
Well, both Manager Hadlocon and Asst. Manager Muncada couldn’t force the concerned Malabon officials to sign the MOA which requires a council resolution.
Just the same, they’re quite concerned as they’re aware about its importance.
With MOA in existence, the NFA officials (Hadlocon and Muncada) said they can immediately release for distribution sacks of rice depending on the volume as requested by the LGUs even if the payment would be made later.
Without it, the NFA shouldn’t be compelled to release rice supply as it’s constrained to prioritize those LGUs that have MOA with the agency, says Manager Hadlocon.
Unfortunately and in most cases, the NFA tends to be in the losing end as the public would easily vent its ire on the agency and accuse it for not being responsive and humane when they don’t get rice especially during hard times.
It turns out the blame should be pointed at local officials who would’nt sign the MOA for reasons only known to them or as many would say: There’s politics behind it. That’s’ excessively outrageous!
As far as rice stock is concerned, the NFA Northern District Office assures the public, specifically in the northern metropolis, that there’ll be steady supply to the local markets where it has accredited over 300 retailers in CAMANAVA area.
They then ask the public to report to them any of those NFA-accredited traders who would violate rules and regulations on selling rice as they would not hesitate to file a case against them before the central office where they’ll surely undergo stricter inquiry.
Keep up the good work Manager Hadlocon and Asst. Manager Muncada, we are behind you! GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
