Employees group of NFA to question constitutionality of rice tariffication law

The spokesperson of the employees association of the National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday said the group would question the constitutionality of the Rice Tariffication Law before the Supreme Court.

"Kukuwestiyonin namin sa Supreme Court, kasama ho namin 'yung magsasaka na tatamaan din, ang maliliit na consumers... magfa-file ho kami ng petition sa Supreme Court 'yung constitutionality ng batas na ito among others..." said Maximo Torda in a phone interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

"Later on pag inissue na sa amin 'yung notice of termination, magfa-file ulit kami ng kaso for violating our right to security of tenure," Torda added.

Torda vowed that they would fight for their rights as employees.

"Ang kalaban ho namin dito mismo is the policy decision-makers ng government. Hindi ho ito pipitsugin. Bilang unyon po ng mga rank and filed employees, hindi ho kami papayag na sasalaulain nila 'yung karapatan namin," he said.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier bared that the Rice Tariffication Law would take effect March 5.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), under the draft IRR of the new law, the NFA's function will be reduced to ensuring the sufficient supply of buffer stocks of rice in the Philippines.

It was earlier reported that a number of NFA employees would lose their jobs as the food regulatory function of the agency will be removed following the ratification of the law.

A member of the NFA Council has said the implementing rules and regulations of the new law was signed during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News