EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2 July 13, 1998

TRANSFERRING THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

WHEREAS, the new government is committed to pursue a policy of agricultural development so as to provide adequate and continuous food supply to the nation;

WHEREAS, basic food sufficiency will be assured only if the grains industry, inclusive of the procurement, storage and marketing of rice, corn and other grains, received the support mechanism and attention it deserves;

WHEREAS, the National Food Authority (NFA), the agency particularly tasked to assure the adequacy of food supply, must be strengthened to enhance its efficiency in the performance of its primary task;

WHEREAS, there is therefore an immediate need to transfer the NFA from the Department of Agriculture to the Office of the President to enable the NFA to pursue its mandate more effectively and expeditiously;

WHEREAS, Section 31, Chapter 10, Title lll, Book lll of Executive No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of l997, provides continuing authority to the President to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President;

NOW THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. Dispositive Action. The NFA is hereby transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Office of the President.

Section 2. Scope of Transfer. The transfer shall be limited to policy and program coordination/integration and administrative supervision.

Section 3. Mode of Transfer. The administrator of the NFA shall immediately prepare and, with the approval of the President, shall implement short- and long-term plans and programs on grain procurement, storage and marketing consistent with the overall policy of agricultural development.

Section 4. Repealing Clause. All executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that shall be inconsistent with the provisions of the Executive Order are hereby either revoked or modified accordingly.

Section 5. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 13th day of July in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Eight.

(Sgd.)President Joseph Ejercito Estrada

President By the President:

(Sgd.)Ronaldo B. Zamora

Executive Secretary