NFA appoints head of bids committee as OIC

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) Council has appointed bids committee chair Efren Sabong as the agency’s officer-in-charge (OIC) after the resignation of administrator Arthur Juan.

Sabong, a lawyer, holds a Career Executive Officer V (CESO) rank in government.

He was chair of the NFA special bids and awards committee and was also assistant administrator of the agency’s finance and administration division prior to his appointment as OIC.

A veteran in the agency, he had served the NFA in various capacities in the central and field offices since 1986.

Present during Sabong’s appointment were members of the NFA Council that include the heads of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and a representative from the farmers’ sector.

Citing ill health, Juan resigned from his position last Friday after a rice trader alleged that the NFA chief extorted money from him.

Food security secretary Francis Pangilinan has stood by Juan’s claim of innocence.

“I continue to believe he is innocent of the charges brought against him. This is a temporary setback in our reform efforts and it will not stop from pursuing sweeping reforms in the NFA and the rice trade in the country,” said Pangilinan in a statement issued after his resignation.