Gov’t looking for new NFA administrator

MANILA — National Food Authority administrator Jason Aquino had requested to be relieved from his post amid the country’s rice woes, President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday.

Duterte made the announcement during the televised interview with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

“He said that he’s tired and he cannot cope up with the laro dyan sa inside,” he said.

The chief executive added he is looking for Aquino’s replacement.

Early in September, Duterte said he would not dismiss any official over the rice crisis in the country as he sees no “serious offense” committed amid the problems involving the country’s staple food.

“Maybe the laws are weak or are unenforceable. All we have to do is improve on those laws, not necessarily fire people,” Duterte said when asked if he plans on firing Aquino and Agriculture secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol over their supposed incompetence in handling the rice crisis.

Aquino has been blamed by both allies of president and opposition lawmakers for the rising prices of the Filipino staple food.

In the same interview, Duterte said that the rice crisis in the country is “artificial” and caused by “man-made manipulation.”

He added that the way to address the surge in rice prices is to import more rice.