Kiko Pangilinan sworn in as new food security czar. President Benigno Aquino III swears in former Senator Francisco Pangilinan as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization in a ceremony at Malacañang on Tuesday, May 6. Pangilinan, an administration ally, has been given power over NFA and three other agriculture agencies. Gil Nartea
President Benigno Aquino III’s marching order to former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, his newly appointed food security assistant, is to “clean up” the four agencies, including the National Food Authority (NFA), put under his office.
“Ang sinabi ng ating Pangulo, I am here to help clean up these agencies, ‘yon ang kanyang sinabi sa akin,” Pangilinan said in a press briefing at Malacañang on Tuesday. “Kasama ang pag-address dito sa mga usapin ng katiwalian at itong smuggling.”
In Executive Order 175 and Memorandum Order 70, the President transferred to Pangilinan, as the newly appointed Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, authority over NFA, National Irrigation Administration , Philippine Coconut Authority and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority.
Proceso Alcala
Pangilinan said the President did not mention any personality who should be included in the ‘cleansing,’ not even Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, whose office has been tagged in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
“Wala naman siyang binanggit kung sino ang isama, kung sino ang hindi isama. So kung sino ang dapat isama, isasama—sino man ‘yon,” he said.
Alcala had earlier belied allegations that his office was used in the systematic funneling of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund—or pork barrel—to bogus non-government organizations.
Food security
Pangilinan said he believes food security can only be attained if the funds of agencies are managed well.
“Food security can only be done when you secure your farmers and your fisherfolk. So the overall program is to address that, including corruption because nandoon na nga ang pondo para sa ating mga magsasaka, nalulustay pa,” he said.
The former senator said that he is not clipping the power of Alcala, but merely supporting the latter’s effort to provide food sustainability in the last two years of the Aquino administration.
Serious concerns
“There are serious concerns and issues affecting the agricultural sector that will need my support and my attention,” Pangilinan said.
Asked if there will be a revamp in the four agencies, Pangilinan said they will discuss it but he does not see an immediate need for it. “Perhaps there will be some changes, but hindi ko nakikita [yung], as you say, a revamp,” he said.
He said one of the issues he will focus on will be the price of palay and rice, and the NFA’s P170 billion debt. —Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News
