NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY EMPLOYEEES ASSOCIATION Quezon City New Year Statement-05-January 2015 The hard lessons we learned from the years past only raised our commitment to a higher level. And this bodes well for us as we face serious challenges this 2015 and beyond. Yes beyond, because greedy forces would stop nothing less than the weakening if not the abolition of this food agency. We survived because of our valiant defense, side by side with our patriotic allies in fighting those mighty forces trying to fully gain control of the profitable grains industry at the expense of the underprivileged. This year will mark the closing months of the Aquino presidency that his economics managers could be desperate enough in ramming down our throat the NFA decoupling moves and other measures to clip the time-tested NFA’s corporate wings through legislative or even executive actions. We could only recall the vigorous attempts of these economic managers at the outset of the Aquino presidency to scrap altogether—echoing their foreign master’s mantra—the so-called very costly rice subsidy. And that this subsidy be packaged in favor of direct cash outlay to the poor through the graft-ridden dole-out scheme, in the DSWD’s Conditional Cash Transfer program. We could also recall what could have happened the past months if there were no NFA in the mercurial rise in rice prices while rice traders were taunting the government with their crass profiteering rice price and supply manipulations. As it is, it could have been most costly to the poor if deprived of affordable rice. Now, there are continued attempts to sell the decoupling bills in Congress which promises very attractive separation packages. But we could not just be hoodwinked by this as separation package is still governed by existing laws and unless there is an Early Retirement or an EO 366-like measure. We will also continue the fight for legitimate rights and welfare of all. Among other concerns, the forging of fourth CNA between union and management is now in process. We are also looking at the operations of the NFA Provident Fund to be sustainably viable and advantageous to the members. The Union, as proven, will be here to protect and promote the rights of all not only of the NFA workers and stakeholders but also of the people. NO TO NFA DECOUPLING! YES TO NFA STRENGTHENING!
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 10:00:08 +0000
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