Creation of the COVID-19 Food Resiliency Task Force

March 15, 2020

 

DA SPECIAL ORDER NO. 335-20

 

In the exigency of service and to comply with the President's directive to undertake community quarantine order in Metro Manila and create a skeletal workforce to continue each agency's mandate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is hereby creating its Food Resiliency Task Force to ensure the availability, affordability, accessibility and safety of food supply in the National Capital Region and the other parts of the country.

I. COMPOSITION

 

Chairperson:	ENGR. ARIEL T. CAYANANUndersecretary for Operations
Co-Chairperson:	DR. ERNESTO S. GONZALESUndersecretary for Consumer Affairs
Members:	CHERYL MARIE NATIVIDAD-CABALLEROUndersecretary and concurrent Chief-of-Staff
	ROLDAN G. GORGONIOUndersecretary for Administration and Finance
	WALDO R. CARPIOUndersecretary for Special Concerns
	EVELYN G. LAVIÑAUndersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit
	RODOLFO V. VICERRAUndersecretary for Policy and Planning
	ZAMZAMIN L. AMPATUANUndersecretary for Regulations
	DR. ANDREW B. VILLACORTAAssistant Secretary for Operations
	KRISTINE Y. EVANGELISTAAssistant Secretary for Agribusiness
	ATTY. HANSEL O. DIDULOAssistant Secretary for the Visayas
	DR. WILLIAM C. MEDRANOAssistant Secretary for Livestock
	ENGR. ROY M. ABAYADirector, Field Operations Service
	ATTY. JUDY CAROL L. DANSALAdministrator, National Food Authority
	ENGR. HERMENEGILDO R. SERAFICAAdministrator, Sugar Regulatory Administration
	BENJAMIN R. MADRIGAL, JR.Administrator, Philippine Coconut Authority
	ATTY. GLEN A. PANGAPALANGeneral Manager, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority
	Cmdre. EDUARDO B. GONGONA (Ret.)Director, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
	DR. REILDRIN G. MORALESDirector, National Meat Inspection Service
	GEORGE Y. CULASTEDirector, Bureau of Plant Industry
	DR. RONNIE D. DOMINGOOIC Director, Bureau of Animal Industry
	RAMON C. YEDRAOIC Director, Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Service
	XERXEES R. REMOROZOOIC Director, Information and Communications Technology Service
	JUNIBERT E. DE SAGUNChief, General Services Division
	ALEXANDER G. ARIZABAL, JR.Head Executive Assistant

 

II. FUNCTIONS

1. Shall provide direction to address food security in line with the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring availability, accessibility, affordability of safe and nutritious food from identified production areas to Metro Manila.

2. Shall oversee the overall activities of the clusters, as assigned:

a. Northern Luzon Cluster

• Usec. Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero

• Asec. Andrew B. Villacorta

• Asec. William C. Medrano

b. Southern Luzon Cluster CAIHTE

• Usec. Ariel T. Cayanan

• Usec. Roldan G. Gorgonio

c. Visayas Cluster

• Usec. Rodolfo V. Vicerra

• Asec. Hansel O. Didulo

d. Western Mindanao Cluster and BARMM

• Usec. Zamzamin L. Ampatuan

e. Eastern Mindanao Cluster

• Usec. Evelyn G. Laviña

Specifically, the functions of each office in the Task Force are as follows:

Office of the Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs

1. Conduct price monitoring, stabilization and enforcement

Field Operations Service

1. Coordinate, monitor and link all activities concerning the Food Resiliency Action Plan for COVID-19 through the DA DRRM Operations Center

2. Serve as Secretariat to the COVID-19 Food Resiliency Task Force

Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service

1. Ensure safe and unhampered delivery of basic and prime commodities to and from Metro Manila

2. Provide avenues for distribution of food to affected areas

3. Help secure food availability in major demand areas

4. Facilitate distribution of stickers to regulatory agencies (NMIS, NFA, BAI, BFAR, BPI, BAFS, FDC)

National Food Authority

1. Ensure availability of rice during the community quarantine scenario through prepositioning of rice stocks

Bureau of Animal Industry

1. Ensure continuous delivery of livestock and poultry products in the designated drop-off points

2. Enforce quarantine measures for safety of livestock animals for human consumption

National Meat Inspection Service

1. Monitor food processing facilities, slaughterhouses and markets to ensure safety of meat products for human consumption

2. Ensure sufficient supply of meat products

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

1. Ensure sufficient supply of fish and fishery products DETACa

2. Conduct price monitoring of fish and fishery products

Philippine Fisheries Development Authority

1. Ensure efficient handling and distribution of fish and fishery products

Bureau of Plant Industry

1. Ensure availability and safety of plant food

Sugar Regulatory Administration

1. Ensure supply of sugar for business and household consumption for the entire duration of the community quarantine

Philippine Coconut Authority

1. Ensure supply of cooking oil and other coconut-based products in the market for the entire duration of the community quarantine

Information and Communications Technology Service

1. Manage information through MIS by utilizing free online office productivity and collaboration tools, eventually shifting to fully-automated system to be developed for future use

2. Use technology to limit face-to-face interactions on a first-come-first-served basis on schedule

3. Promote the use of social media as means of communication

General Services Division

1. Provide essential staff support services in administration and management

2. Provide transportation and other auxiliary services

The DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service headed by Dir. Roy Abaya shall serve as the Secretariat of this Task Force.

All heads of Regional Field Offices are hereby enjoined to give their full support and cooperation to the DA COVID-19 Food Resiliency Task Force.

All expenses relative to the conduct of the activity shall be charged against their respective offices and/or DA-OSEC funds subject to usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

This order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force until revoked in writing. All orders/memoranda inconsistent herewith are deemed revoked. aDSIHc

Done this 16th day of March, 2020.

(SGD.) WILLIAM D. DAR, Ph.D.Secretary