The National Food Authority (NFA) has a new officer-in-charge of its daily operations interrupted by revelations of alleged anomalous sale of government procured rice stock to traders.
The NFA Council led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. unanimously appointed DA director IV Larry Lacson as OIC whose main task is ensuring the country has sufficient rice stock as buffer at all times.
Lacson is a member of Philippine Food Expo Inc., a former co-chairman of the agriculture and fisheries committee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as former director of the Bureau of Plant Industry.
He is also a doctor of agricultural science, major in crop science from the De La Salle Araneta University.
One hundred forty one NFA executives and employees have been preventively suspended by the Ombudsman pending the completion of its investigation into the allegations.
The Ombudsman has also lifted the suspension of at least two dozen NFA employees.
“The NFA Council has unanimously appointed Director Larry Lacson as OIC-administrator to make sure the operations of the agency runs smoothly, especially during the harvest season. The NFA is an integral part of our effort to ensure the country’s food security,” Laurel said.
Prior to Lacsons appointment, Piolito Santos who was an assistant administrator for finance at the NFA was named agency OIC.
The Ombudsman also suspended Santos over the rice sale issue.
