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5 questions that must be answered by a boss-jerk

My boss wants me to work hard on my job and gives result before his unilaterally imposed deadline. The trouble is that we’re doing a lot of back-and-forth meetings that cause delay in the completion of my work. This includes waiting for him for hours to come to the office and when’s in, he drags his feet in making decisions. I think it boils down to one thing — he’s giving me piecemeal information and at times, wouldn’t allow himself to be taken on record. If “cornered,” he would often hide under the company’s confidentiality rule. Am I working for a jerk? — Amazingly Dumbfounded.
We human beings are physically created so that we can walk more easily forward than backward. Look at how easy it is to use our hands in front of us than behind us. This principle can be easily discovered by every young girl as she tries to button the buttons on the back of her dress.
Always, you can hear a frustrated little girl exclaiming: “How can I button these buttons when I am in front of myself?” It’s difficult to answer your question if your boss is a jerk or not. That’s because you know him more than I do. But with the preceding story, I can easily paraphrase your question with the following: “How can I do my job more effectively and efficiently if the boss is withholding information?”
One of the irritating aspects of a working (if a not working) relationship is to be delayed in your work because the boss does not share complete information about a certain task or project. If this is happening regularly, you may start to think that you’re working for a jerk. Or is it? Is it enough basis to judge his competence?
On the other hand, the boss you suspect of being a “jerk” may not trust you well enough with vital facts and figures so that you can do your job ahead of schedule. Of course, that approach will just serve to increase the burden on you, if not create conflict between you and your boss. Then you resent him for that.
Therefore, rather than perpetually calling your boss a “jerk” behind his back, the solution lies in remaining positive about the situation and figure out why he appears not to understand your current needs. Most likely, the reason is either in the way the instructions were given or the circumstances of your boss.
Even if you think you’re not part of the problem, try to look back and discover your own faults and weaknesses. For this approach, you need to take a proactive stance in knowing everything from your boss with the following exploratory but magical questions:
One, how can I perform better in my job as you want it to be? Take the time to clarify the boss’s expectations. Sometimes, the instructions are given in haste, particularly when the boss is too busy and he has no time to document everything. More often, this is the time when he could miss on many things. Therefore, the best tactic for you is to summarize in an e-mail, test message or any written form about your understanding of the boss’s instructions and the information you need. Then, be happy if he replies with either of the words – “OK” or “noted.”
Two, would you like me to drop Project ABC, so I can prioritize XYZ? Perhaps the greatest challenge in working with so many simultaneous projects is to determine one’s priority. And that can only be done with the boss’s permission. Don’t try to do everything in one major sweep and fare poorly. It’s bad for your health, your family life, and of course with your relations with the boss. So the only guarantee you have is to concentrate on working on one project at a time, and do it well, if not exceed the boss’s expectations so that you can proceed on working with confidence on your next project.
Three, what kind of information I need to complete this task? Then, explore it with a follow-up question — where can I get the full facts and figures about it? Don’t wait for your boss to volunteer all the information you need. And don’t suspect him of keeping confidential information from you, unless you have sufficient basis. To play it safe, work on the assumption that he’s too busy to spoon-feed you with everything. Who knows? Maybe he’s expecting you to be more resourceful and to do your best in everything.
Four, what is my budget and other limitations about this project? In general, the company resources you need should be based on what was approved by top management. Nothing more than that. Better if you can achieve great results with fewer resources. That alone could give you enough stars so that you can be easily trusted by your boss, if not give you some material things, out of the savings you have realized.
Last, how is it possible for us to agree on a mutually agreed timeline? Your pacing should be based on the deadline given. It depends much on many factors which include the complexity of the job or internal politics in the organization, among other things. Sometimes, a relatively minor task becomes significant and urgent if it has been given a high priority by the boss, for one reason or another. Some bosses tend to delegate a task and then forget about it. Sometimes, to test your trustworthiness.
Working for someone can be a two-edged sword. You can misinterpret the boss’s acts or omissions into something else. Note that he may also be thinking about the same thing against you. Therefore, there’s no better way but to be positively reasonable by asking those five questions.
ELBONOMICS: Employee motivation is a result of one’s interaction with the boss.
 
Join our May 23, 2018 public workshop on “Lean HR: How to Stop Inefficiency and Win Back Control of Your Work!” at Makati Diamond Residences. For further details, contact Ricky Mendoza at (02) 846-8951 or mobile 0915-406-3039 or e-mail inquiry@kairos.com.ph
elbonomics@gmail.com

RFM income up 6%

RFM CORP. grew its attributable profit by 6% in the first quarter of 2017, boosted by higher sales from its ice cream, pasta, flour, and milk products.
In a regulatory filing posted Thursday, the listed firm said it booked a net income attributable to equity holders of the parent of P211 million in the January to March period, higher than the P199 million it generated in the same period a year ago.
This followed a 10% increase in revenues to P2.8 billion, with the company noting a top-line growth across both its branded consumer and commodities segments.
“For 2018, we expect to sustain this strong first quarter momentum with the recent launch of our Selecta Fortified Milk TV campaign and upcoming marketing initiatives for our pasta, sauce and ice cream, over the course of 2018,” RFM President and Chief Executive Officer Jose A. Concepcion III said in a statement.
RFM’s Selecta ice cream brand delivered a 9% increase in revenues for the period. Institutional sales, which includes the bakery business was also up by 10% year on year.
Meanwhile, sales of its pasta brands Fiesta and Royal, combined with White King mixes and Selecta Milk clocked in a 10% growth for the period.
The ice cream and pasta maker will be spending P1 billion in capital expenditures this year to finance its joint ventures for the ice cream business. Portions of the 2018 capex will also be for investments in flour milling, supply chain, milk, pasta, and sauce.
The company is currently upgrading its flour mill for P240 million, funded by internally generated cash.
RFM is undertaking a P900-million share buyback program, with P446.39 million worth of shares already repurchased as of April 18.
Incorporated in 1957 originally as Republic Flour Mills, Inc., RFM’s business is divided into tow segments: the institutional segment for the flour, bakery, and other bakery products to institutional customers, and the consumer segment that manufactures and sells ice cream, milk, juices, pasta, and other rice-based mixes.
Shares in RFM gained 11 centavos or 2.37% to close at P4.76 each on Thursday. — Arra B. Francia

Charming, stylish, and fun

By Alexander O. Cuaycong
and Anthony L. Cuaycong
WHEN IT COMES to video games, there’s a certain polish that Bandai Namco is able to give them to make them stand out. No matter what the genre is, Bandai Namco games are both fun to play and enthralling to behold. Whether it’s their fighting games like Soul Calibur or Tekken, or their role-playing games like Tales or .hack, that certain sense of style never fails to shine. In Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, this is more than apparent as it embodies everything good about Bandai Namco’s releases. Charming, stylish, and fun, it remains entertaining over the course of its 50- to 60-hour playthrough.
In Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, players follow the story of Roland, a man thrust into the Kingdom of Ding Dong Dell by random chance. He arrives in the midst of a coup where the evil Lord Otto Mausinger moves to take the kingship away from young heir Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum. It’s up to Roland and Evan to end Lord Mausinger’s tyrannical rule and take back the crown. In following the compelling storyline, players take control of Evan, Roland, and their companions as they travel throughout the land, fighting monsters, lead armies, and even undertake quests for the local townfolk, all in a mission to right what’s wrong in the land of Ding Dong Dell and unite all the kingdoms under one banner.
First things first: Ni No Kuni II is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Whether on the PlayStation 4 or on the PC, its cel-shaded art style combined with its nice, light hearted aesthetic design makes the game really shine, almost looking like an old-style cartoon or an anime film. Small wonder, as the first Ni No Kuni was created in tandem with the Hayao Miyazaki-led Studio Ghibli, and Ni No Kuni II follows in its footsteps and does it justice. Vibrant colors engulf the screen and combine with a rich character design, making even the tamer enemies look entertaining and unique. Environments are lush and detailed, standing out compared to other titles in the genre, especially given the sheer depth of the game and the variety it presents. Graphically, there’s very little to complain about, and apart from the odd stutter on the PC, it runs well and looks amazing even with the settings maxed out. Likewise, the PS4 version of the game is close to flawless and shows no slowdown, featuring crisp gameplay all throughout.
At the outset, Ni No Kuni II seems mostly standard Japanese RPG fare, but with added twists to keep players constantly interested. Taking control of one of several characters, players dodge and fight foes in real-time combat. Skills are flashy but effective, and can be learned and used against foes. Ranged attacks are available for picking off flying enemies or stragglers with low hit points; both cost mana though, which players can generate by connecting hits against enemies. Juxtaposed with the Zing mechanic, which encourages proper usage of skills in tandem with constant weapon swapping, it’s a pretty straightforward but enjoyable combat system. There’s never a dull moment as each battle is characterized by on-the-fly thinking, frequent dodging, and proper mana and skill callups, especially when Higgledies come into play. These are friendly NPCs that provide helpful buffs and abilities during combat, but do so at random points across the battlefield. This turns combat into a nice mix of attacking, defending, dodging, and strategizing, as brute force can sometimes be less effective than proper timing and exploitation of the map.
Ni no Kuni II also has Overworld Army battles, a pseudo real-time-strategy combat game within the game that has Evan leading his troops against enemy armies. Taking a rock-paper-scissors approach to battles, it’s a simple but effective diversion, though not nearly as interesting as the kingdom management Ni no Kuni II has players doing. The kingdom-building mini-game has players doing quests for citizens in return for greater and better rewards. These endeavors can lead to the construction of larger and grander buildings, and, in turn, access to more powerful spells and equipment. While both these mini-games are mostly optional, they’re effective in spicing up the gameplay; they never feel too intrusive or forced upon those who refuse to do them.
In the end, it’s hard to find fault in Ni no Kuni II. There’s a simple but compelling charm to it, like a child’s fairy tale. The plot isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it’s told with such sincerity and depth of emotion that it’s hard to stop midway, and the addictive nature of the gameplay keeps you going no matter what. If anything, the only fault to be had lies in the PS4’s button layouts, where the dodge and block actions share the same input and may well lead to some frustration during combat.
It’s just nitpicking, though. In the final analysis, Ni no Kuni II lives up to the hype; it delivers as advertised, and more. Fun, innovative, and interesting, its seamless combat, gorgeous visuals, and outstanding game mechanics will keep players hooked, and its light-hearted, overarching narrative gets them invested in their progress all throughout. As one of the best JRPGs ever released, it’s highly recommended and definitely worth the price.

Which regions will be getting the biggest slices of the infrastructure pie?

How PSEi member stocks performed — April 19, 2018

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

PAO files charges vs DoH chief over Dengvaxia

PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S Office (PAO) chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta on Thursday included Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III in the charges she had earlier filed against former health secretary Janette L. Garin, officials of Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. and Zuellig Pharma Corp. and several others in connection with the reported deaths attributed to the Dengvaxia vaccine program.
Also included in the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violation of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, filed at the Department of Justice, were Maria Lourdes C. Santiago and Melody Zamudio of the Food and Drug Administration.
According to Ms. Rueda-Acosta, Mr. Duque was included in the complaint because of the death of 13-year old Abbie A. Hedia, who was inoculated on Nov. 17, 2017, 10 days after Mr. Duque’s appointment as health secretary.
“Wala po kaming masamang intensyon sa kanino man…. Ang amin lamang ay mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga batang namatay matapos mabakunahan (We are not singling out any person…. We only want justice for these children who died after they were inoculated),” Ms. Rueda-Acosta told reporters.
Mr. Duque, when sought for comment, confirmed the date of his appointment. He said in an interview described Ms. Acosta’s action as being “full of malice” and said the complaint was an attempt to “sabotage the Department of Health.”
“This is harassment,” he added.
He also said it was former health secretary Paulyn B. Rosell-Ubial who restarted the vaccination program and extended it to communities. Mr. Duque said he stopped the program on Nov. 29, that same month he assumed office.
When asked if he would take action, Mr. Duque said he would but declined to give details.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Thursday objected to the Senate blue-ribbon committee’s draft report on the Dengvaxia controversy, which recommended the filing of graft charges against former president Benigno S.C. Aquino III, Ms. Garin, and former budget secretary Florencio B. Abad.
“Upon careful review of the draft report, I would like to inform you that I disagree with its findings, conclusions and recommendations,” Mr. Drilon said in a letter, along with his 30-page dissenting vote, to the committee chair Senator Richard J. Gordon
Mr. Drilon is the second senator who has said he will not sign the draft committee report released by Mr. Gordon last Apr. 11. Senator Panfilo M. Lacson earlier said he has no intention to sign the report, noting Mr. Gordon’s “prejudgements” during the Senate hearings.
“He was directing the investigation to suit the outcome that he had desired from the very start,” Mr. Lacson said.
For his part, Mr. Drilon said he found no basis to recommend the filing of graft charges, adding that declaring the mentioned officials as guilty at this point reinforced the “politicization” of a public health concern.
No conclusive evidence was also found in the Senate hearings to support that the reported deaths were connected to Dengvaxia, he added.
On the other hand, nine senators from the committee reportedly signed the draft report, including Senators Sherwin T. Gatchalian and Nancy S. Binay who confirmed their signing to reporters.
Mr. Gordon has said the draft report will be presented to the plenary once Congress resumes session on May. — D.A.M. Enerio, with Camille A. Aguinaldo

Sereno camp deplores ‘rush’ in quo warranto case

THE CAMP of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, when sought for comment on Thursday, criticized the Supreme Court’s (SC) reported ruling on the quo warranto petition against her by next month, as disclosed by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio to reporters also on Thursday.
“We cannot help but ask, why the rush?” lawyer and Ms. Sereno’s spokesperson Josalee S. Deinla told reporters following news reports quoting Mr. Carpio as saying in part that, “By next month, we should be able to decide it.”
Mr. Carpio’s remarks are in reference to Solicitor-General Jose C. Calida’s quo warranto petition seeking to void Ms. Sereno’s appointment for not submitting her complete Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
Ms. Deinla pointed out that the SC “is supposed to be on break after its last en banc session on April 24 in Baguio” and that “they are on recess in May.”
“The quo warranto petition is an important case which if granted will upend our justice system as we know it. The SC has not even heard the side of any of the intervenors,” she added.
When sought for comment on reports that Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam had already drafted a resolution granting Mr. Calida’s petition, Ms. Deinla said in a text message, “If true, the report… comes as no surprise, considering that the Justice has exhibited manifest bias and prejudice against the Chief Justice and even refused to recuse himself from the proceedings.”
The SC dismissed Ms. Sereno’s motion to have Associate Justices Tijam, Teresita L. De Castro, Francis H. Jardeleza, Diosdado M. Peralta, and Lucas P. Bersamin inhibit themselves from her case as they testified against her in the impeachment proceedings by the House committee on justice.
Also on Thursday, opposition Senators Antonio F. Trillanes IV and Leila M. De Lima petitioned the SC to dismiss Mr. Calida’s petition. — D.A.M. Enerio

Albayalde assumes command of PNP

THE NEW Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar D. Albayalde pledged to carry on the programs implemented under his predecessor Ronald M. Dela Rosa as he took command of the police force on Thursday, April 19.
“We will not relent on our war against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality,” Mr. Albayalde said in his speech during the PNP Change of Command Ceremony.
Mr. Dela Rosa, whom President Rodrigo R. Duterte designated as the new director of the Bureau of Corrections on the same day, was at the forefront of the campaign against illegal drugs and saw a record of 22% decrease in criminality during his 21-month tenure as the PNP’s leader.
Mr. Albayalde said he will enforce strict discipline, reforms, and internal cleansing of the ranks.
“We will standardize ethical training to our personnel and build better facilities, including bigger detention cells in our police stations. All our recruits and new officers shall be required to undergo standard staff training before they get deployed in different regions,” Mr. Albayalde said.
As the Regional Director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Mr. Albayalde became known for conducting surprise visits on police stations and dismissing erring officials.
“As much as I enjoy conducting surprise inspections, I may not be able to reach all of our 2,766 police stations nationwide. So I expect our provincial and city directors to conduct their surprise inspections to regularly assess the operational readiness of our forces on the ground,” Mr. Albayalde added.
Likewise, Mr. Albayalde said exemplary officials will be recognized and provided legal assistance for police officials who are facing charges before any court in relation to their duty. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

Nationwide Round-Up

Robredo appeals 25% threshold in VP recount case

VICE-PRESIDENT Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo on Thursday urged the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to reverse an April 10 ruling that imposed a 50% ballot shading threshold in the ongoing recount based on an election protest filed by losing candidate and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos. “Ang hinihingi po natin, na kung ano iyong batayan noong pagbilang ng mga boto noong eleksyon, at kung ano iyong batayan ng pagboto ng lahat ng kandidato, iyon din sana iyong batayan na gamitin sa atin (What we are asking for is to follow the basis used in counting during the election and what was used for all candidates),” Ms. Robredo told reporters outside the Supreme Court. Ms. Robredo, in her 11-page motion for reconsideration, asked the court, sitting as PET, to use the 25% threshold used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the May 2016 polls instead of the 50% used in the May 2010 elections. Ms. Robredo, in the petition, also criticized the PET for not being aware of Comelec Resolution No. 9164, which “deleted the imposition of the 50% threshold” from a previous resolution. — Dane Angelo M. Enerio

Resigned labor official Say would have been fired, says Palace

DOMINADOR R. Say, who has just resigned as undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), would have been fired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte if he did not step down, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. In a briefing Thursday, Mr. Roque said Mr. Say would have been sacked for “corruption that the President knows about.” “Corruption relating to activities of labor recruiters, apparently, and the Department of Labor and Employment! But I’m not sure if that was what he was referring to; I just have personal knowledge that if the resignation was not submitted, he would have been fired,” the spokesman added.— Arjay L. Balinbin

CA’s Inting appointed as new Comelec commissioner

MALACAÑANG ANNOUNCED on Thursday, April 19, the appointment of Court of Appeals Associate Justice Socorro B. Inting as new commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Ms. Inting, according to her appointment papers, will be serving until Feb. 2, 2025. President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed her appointment papers on April 17. Ms. Inting hails from Davao City, the President’s hometown. — Arjay L. Balinbin

NYC reminds SK candidates: You should not have relatives in elected position

NATIONAL YOUTH Commission (NYC) office-in-charge Chair Ronald L. Cardema on Thursday reminded those who are aspiring for a position in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) that candidates must not have relatives who currently hold elected government positions. Section 10 of the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 states that, among other criteria, a candidate “… must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected, and must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.” The filing of certificate of candidacy is until April 20 for the election set on May 14. — Arjay L. Balinbin

ConCom amends definition of PHL territory in light of Hague ruling, Sabah, Benham Rise

PHILIPPINES-CHINA-MARITIME-DIPLOMACY
AFP / Philippine Department of Agriculture-Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
A SUBCOMMITTEE of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) has proposed to revise the Article on National Territory of the 1987 constitution, giving the 2016 Hague ruling on the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China a “constitutional status.”
“The prime considerations of the proposed revision is that the new article on national territory should be in conformity with the (United Nations) Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the arbitral (tribunal) decision in favor of the Philippines and also our claims over Benham Rise,” Ranhilio C. Aquino, who sponsored the article, said in a press briefing on Thursday.
Under the proposed Article on National Territory, the Philippines’ sovereignty would consist of “the islands and waters encompassed by its archipelagic baselines, its territorial sea and its airspace,” in accordance to the “laws of the federal republic, the law of nations, and judgments of competent international courts or tribunals.”
It also included territories that belong to the country by “historic right or legal title,” which was a provision of the 1973 constitution, but excised from the present constitution.
Fr. Aquino said this particular provision will allow the Philippines to “actively pursue” its long-standing claims over Sabah, currently deemed a state by Malaysia that forms part of its federation.
Sabah was leased by the Sultanate of Sulu to the British North Borneo Company in an 1878 agreement. In 1946, the British, Malaysia’s former rulers, annexed Sabah as a crown colony days after the Philippines’ independence on July 4, according to a Dec. 30, 1961 article by the journalist Napoleon G. Rama that prompted the Philippines to pursue its claim over Sabah on the watch of then president Diosdado P. Macapagal.
Section 2 of the proposed article, meanwhile, recognized the country’s rights over “maritime expanse beyond its territorial sea to the extent reserved to it by international law.” This covers its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which is within 200 nautical miles from the archipelagic baselines and aqua-maritime resources.
In drafting the proposed definition of the territory, Mr. Aquino noted Section 2 incorporated the significant factual and legal conclusions of the arbitral award in favor of the Philippines in the case on the South China Sea.
The section also asserted rights over the Philippine Rise, the country’s extended continental shelf, also called Benham Rise.
He added: “We are expanding in the sense that we are consolidating our claims and not foreclosing the Philippines from pursuing its claims to which it may be legally entitled both by domestic vote and by international law.”
The subcommittee, chaired by Antonio B. Arellano, is set to discuss the provisions with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before their submission to the ConCom en banc for approval.
The revision, aside from adding a new section, also changed the title of Article 1 from “National Territory,” in the present Constitution to “Sovereignty Over Territory and Sovereign Rights.”

Senator files resolution proposing Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes

By Camille A. Aguinaldo
SENATE Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III on Thursday sought the creation of an office under the direct supervision of the President tasked to supervise and monitor illegal drug cases.
In filing Senate Resolution No. 702, Mr. Sotto urged the President to create the “Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes,” headed by the Solicitor-General, which will focus and address the problem of prosecution in the government’s war against illegal drugs and other crimes.
“The said office shall also formulate programs and protocols to strengthen the prosecution of drug cases and assist law enforcers,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Sotto, who once headed the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), said he was alarmed with records indicating that 70% of drug cases were being dismissed due to lack of coordination between law enforcers and prosecutors, especially in the case build-up.
He said the proposed office would be created through an Executive Order, which would make into one body the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs (BoC), and the Department of Justice (DoJ).
Under his proposal, state and public prosecutors would be designated to the PNP, PDEA and NBI to advise, supervise and monitor anti-drug and crimes operations, especially high-profile cases.
Mr. Sotto also proposed “Deputy Commanders” for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who would be taken from the present undersecretaries or assistant secretaries from DoJ, DILG, DDB, PNP, PDEA, and other necessary agencies.

DA chief bares reforms on rice distribution

By Anna Gabriela A. Mogato, Reporter
A SERIES of reforms is expected to be introduced in the local rice market by a technical working group (TWG) composed of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA).
Agriculture secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said in a press conference on Thursday that the TWG “will look into how to improve the rice industry in the country.”
One of the reforms expected would be the use of a traceability system based on the price monitoring of rice as conducted by DA, DTI, and NFA.
“I noticed that there was no way of validating where the rice came from– if it’s imported or local. So our problem is the traceability and you know the racket of our importers — they will import the rice and rebag it then sell these as fancy or commercial rice,” Mr. Piñol said.
“I talked to [NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Y.] Aquino that we should impose a traceability system. This means that before a sack of rice leaves Thailand or Vietnam, we should know where it came from…when it reaches the Philippines.”
Other reforms seen are extending rice buffer stocks to reach 60 days and shifting from warehouses to silos for palay storage.
“[I also told Mr. Aquino that] we should place CCTV in all the warehouses of NFA where there are stocks of imported rice so that we have a recording of who withdrew it,” Mr. Piñol said.
“The trucks should have tracking devices so that from the warehouse, we’d know if it diverted and went somewhere else. We can make these efforts transparent.”
Mr. Piñol also noted problems in rice distribution, with no system to gauge pricing as rice would be sold as low as P38 and as high as P100.
Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said they are conducting a feasibility study on imposing suggested retail prices for regular-milled and well-milled rice, noting that some rice coming from private firms already have branding.
Aside from the TWG, Mr. Piñol announced that an executive committee will be formed to deal with NFA’s day-to-day operations. This includes studying policies, local procurement and rice importation.
The committee, composed of the Department of Finance, DTI, DA and NFA, will make recommendaitons based on its discussions with the interagency NFA Council.

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