National Food Authority Administrator Anthony Abad yesterday confirmed reports that he intends to leave the NFA and resume his career in the private sector.
As this developed, pro-Abad NFA employees began organizing a protest rally at Malacañang to press for Abad’s retention as head of the agency.
Abad, who reportedly succumbed to pressure to resign after being berated in public at least three times by President Arroyo, said he is not inclined to accept any more government post.
Abad will reportedly swap posts with another Arroyo protégé, Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) head Arthur Yap.
The beleaguered NFA chief said in an emotional speech yesterday at the NFA’s 30th anniversary celebration that he is quitting for personal reasons.
"There comes a point in government service that you have to take a break. In my case, I want to resume my life in the private sector. I want to spend more time with my family and go on teaching at the Ateneo (de Manila University)," Abad said.
Despite his firm intention to give up his post, Abad said he is still willing to help the Arroyo administration, even after he has rejoined the private sector.
Throughout the celebration, Abad was relaxed and jovial, with no traces of the reported bitterness and frustration over policy differences with Presidential Adviser on Agriculture Modernization Angelito Sarmiento.
However, Abad admitted that his Herculean task as NFA chief became even more difficult with the fact that he had to answer to several bosses. "Part of my confusion was because I had too many bosses, which I’m not used to, since I answered to one boss in the corporate structure."
Abad reports to both Sarmiento, who is now NFA chairman concurrently with his advisorship to the President, and Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor. He also reports to Presidential Adviser on Job Creation Luis Lorenzo for the rice hybrid program.
Sources said Sarmiento, who is touted as Abad’s replacement in the NFA, already holds fort at the NFA head office. On the other hand, if Sarmiento is named NFA head, former Tarlac Rep. Jose "Peping" Cojuangco will be named Mrs. Arroyo’s adviser on agriculture modernization.
Abad submitted his resignation to Malacañang last Sept. 13. He said that in his almost two-year stint at the NFA, he has not gotten used to the bureaucracy in government service.