New man at DA
Aside from the fact that his family owns Frabelle Fishing, one of the oldest and biggest fishing companies in Southeast Asia, Secretary Laurel does not carry any political baggage.
Daily TribuneAside from the fact that his family owns Frabelle Fishing, one of the oldest and biggest fishing companies in Southeast Asia, Secretary Laurel does not carry any political baggage.
Finally, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has turned over the Department of Agriculture portfolio to Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Although little is known of Laurel, it is a relief that now someone can dedicate his time and attention to agriculture and fisheries. Laurel has a gargantuan responsibility to bring agriculture back to its role as the backbone of the Philippine economy. And indeed, it is.
And yet, our political leaders and captains of industry have been treating it as a backyard hobby. Agriculture, in fact, employs about 40 percent of Filipino workers and contributes an average of 20 percent to the gross domestic product.
Sadly, some politicians think subdivision development is better, so they convert rice fields and protected watersheds into housing projects. Characters appointed to top positions at the Department of Agriculture were bereft of ideas on addressing the problems and challenges in agricultural productivity.
As we have seen from day one, when the Marcos administration took over the helm of government and the DA, the initial solution was to import rice, sugar, onions, and fish, and acquiesce to the idea of smuggling the commodities.
Importation is a virtual noose for farmers suffering from government neglect and apathy.
I still believe President Bongbong is sincere about lifting the farmers and fishermen from the morass of poverty. Unlike his father, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., whose love for farmers was epic, President Bongbong failed in comparison. His choices to help him run the DA were more focused on doing their jobs from swivel chairs in the comfort of their air-conditioned offices — characters who hated the smell of the soil and the sweat of farmers and fishermen.
It would have been easy had Marcos Jr. just copied the agricultural template of his father, which was proven to be most effective as the Philippines then exported rice.
The appointment of Laurel is a light in the tunnel. While he seems to be a corporate executive, the information about him is that he has been immersed in the fishing industry, which his family has nurtured.
Let's take it from how former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol describes Laurel:
"For me, he is a breath of fresh air for the agriculture department since he is a stakeholder representing the fisheries sector. Aside from the fact that his family owns Frabelle Fishing, one of Southeast Asia's oldest and biggest fishing companies, Secretary Laurel does not carry any political baggage.
"He does not owe his appointment to any political patron as he was personally picked by the President. Then maybe he can jettison the top guns in the DA and appoint people who know the task.
"While fishery is Laurel's forte, he needs to delve more into rice productivity. The challenge is how fast he can resuscitate the National Food Authority and the Food Terminal Inc., which were moth-balled by the Cory administration. The important facilities of the NFA were cannibalized, and others were left to rot, while the vital assets of the FTI, including its real estate, were sold for a song to the mestizos of Makati."
So welcome and good luck, Secretary Laurel.