After 17 months, the Department of Agriculture has a new full-time secretary in the person of fishing magnate Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

"We have found somebody who understands very well the problems that agriculture is facing," President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in a press briefing, adding that Laurel took his oath of office on Friday.

"The reason for the timing (of his appointment) is that now we are confident that we have a fair understanding, a good understanding of what needs to be done," he added.

Marcos vouched for Laurel's work ethic and that he knew much about the agriculture field, especially fisheries.

He said the new secretary was a good person he had "known since we were boys."

"I have great confidence in appointing him because I know his character," Marcos said. "I know that he is very hardworking, first and foremost. Second, he understands the agricultural system here in the Philippines very well."

Marcos defended his choice of assuming the role of agriculture secretary shortly after becoming president in June 2022, citing the need for swift action due to the rapid changes occurring in the global economy. He then said he personally oversees the DA to prioritize immediate focus on this sector.

Marching orders

One of the marching orders Marcos gave Laurel was to figure out how to better deal with the prices of all farm goods since these have been affected by climate change.

The President said the Department of Agriculture should also look into the best farming methods in nearby countries that could be applied in the Philippines.

"We are looking at what our neighboring countries are doing, such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. We might learn from them and apply it here in the Philippines, and that is the first task that our new secretary will have to take on," Marcos said.

Close to his heart

In his speech to the press, Laurel said that farmers and fishermen are "close to his heart" because he has "personally witnessed their hardships and dreams."

He promised that the sector would be able to enjoy the results of their hard work while he was in charge.

Laurel is president of Frabelle Fishing Corp., a seafood production company that has been in operation since 1966, and the Agusan Power Co.

According to the Frabelle website, the company owns a fleet of over 100 vessels and has a continuously expanding workforce of 5,000 employees.

The company is renowned as a leading supplier of fresh, frozen, and processed seafood, catering to markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and the United States.

 Campaign donor

Laurel is one of the primary financial backers of Marcos' presidential campaign in 2022, channeling his support through the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the political party that endorsed Marcos. Records from the PFP's statement of contributions revealed that Laurel contributed P30 million to the campaign.

In August 2022, Laurel took on a role with the Private Sector Advisory Council, a body formed to provide recommendations and insights to the President on economic matters.

Laurel represents the agriculture sector in PSAC alongside five other prominent business leaders. He obtained a computer science degree at the University of Santo Tomas.

First meeting

Laurel said he met with DA personnel on Friday to discuss how to implement the President's orders.

"I'm asking for their full cooperation because the department must be united in pursuing a common goal, which is essentially modernization and increased production," he said.

Laurel said he will implement the President's plans to the letter, thus, he needs the team to be unified and committed to achieving their objectives and meeting their targets.

There are high expectations for the fishing magnate as he steps into the role held previously by Marcos as leading a significant agency responsible for ensuring the nation's food supply is a formidable task.

Appointment welcomed

DA officials led by Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leo Sebastian welcomed Laurel's appointment.

Sebastian assured the new secretary of their full support and cooperation, and "we will work with him as a team to meet the agricultural sector's needs."

He said they are beset by rising commodity prices, including agricultural products, due to inflation and rampant agricultural smuggling.

Senators, too

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri vouched for Laurel's managerial experience and common touch to lead "what is perhaps the most important agency in the country today."

"I am glad that the President personally headed the Department of Agriculture for a time and instituted a whole-of-government approach in implementing important reforms in the agricultural sector that strengthened our food security," he said.

"But it is also right that the DA now be helmed by a new secretary who can be devoted to the agriculture sector and not have to juggle it with other national concerns," he said.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito welcomed the appointment, saying: "I am wishing newly appointed Secretary Francisco Laurel all the best to be able to fix a very complicated problem that is the Department of Agriculture."

"But I am hopeful that since he is already an established and very successful businessman, a billionaire, and is trusted by PBBM, that he might just be the right person to fix the problems at the Department of Importation, este Agriculture," he said.

For Senator Grace Poe, the new DA secretary should also have a "genuine feeling" for the agricultural sector.

"Agriculture is a vital component of the economy, providing food on the table and sustaining the livelihood of millions," she said. "Yet, it has been on a steady decline as a contributor to growth and employment generation."

She added: "As the first order of the day, we hope the new DA chief would take to heart the President's warning in his SONA against smugglers, hoarders, and price fixers."

Long-standing issues

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said: "I am hoping that, with his appointment, long-standing issues affecting our farmers, fisherfolk, as well as the rest of the agricultural sector will finally be addressed," Hontiveros said.

"These include stabilizing the prices of agricultural commodities, improving the productivity and incomes of our farmers and fisherfolk, and confronting the cartels that have become deeply entrenched in the sector," she said.

Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry G. Gadon said Laurel's appointment would alleviate the plight of farmers and fishermen with his expertise in agriculture.

"The appointment of Kiko Tiu Laurel as DA secretary is a welcome development in the Marcos administration. He has extensive experience in food production and market distribution; hence, he knows how to play with the forces of demand and supply. We need somebody who knows the intricacies of demand and supply," Gadon said.