Daily TribuneAs former chairman of the World Tuna Purse Seine Organization, I have seen firsthand the dire consequences of setting aside the issue of sustainability
photograph courtesy of Francisco ‘Kiko’ Tiu Laurel Jr./fb Francisco ‘Kiko’ Tiu Laurel Jr.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday, 5 December 2023 submitted his ad interim appointment for confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
Laurel was appointed a month ago by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to head the Department of Agriculture, a portfolio that Marcos held for over a year to underscore the sector's importance in ensuring food security and job creation since it employs one in every four working Filipinos.
"I am now 56 and I've been called to serve the country — to lead it out of high food prices; low food production; broken food supply chains; lack of irrigation, cold storage, credit, and other key inputs; and aging farmers and fisherfolk. Add climate change and geopolitical disruptions to this mix, and the task of feeding 118 million Filipinos becomes even more daunting," Laurel told the CA's Committee on Agriculture chaired by Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia.
Problems as a challenge
"But I view these problems as a challenge. And I shall apply my knowledge and experience in building a diversified global company to this achievable goal. I shall apply these lessons to serve our larger family of the Filipino people," he added.
Laurel was just 28 when he took over the reins of Frabelle, now one of the country's biggest major deep-sea fishing company that had been established by his parents.
He joined the family business at age 19, spending months at sea as he joined Frabelle's fishing expeditions. Conferences and seminars overseas that his father sent him to in order to continue his education gave Laurel valuable lessons that he used to grow Frabelle into a diversified conglomerate with interests in food manufacturing, deep-sea fishing, property development, shipyard operation, aquaculture, cold storage chain, and renewable power.
We cannot do it alone
"Natutunan ko na dapat ring humingi ng tulong. Humility and faith in fellow journeymen take disipline. Because we cannot do it alone, I abide by the oft-repeated whole-of-country and whole-of-society approach. The boat will get nowhere if we paddle in different directions," he said. (I've learned to ask for help.)
Laurel said the DA under his watch will rely on science and market data to ensure timely interventions to modernize agriculture to realize food security and sufficiency, as well as sustainability.
"As former chairman of the World Tuna Purse Seine Organization, I have seen firsthand the dire consequences of setting aside the issue of sustainability. Yet, sustainability encompasses every aspect of human existence, and thus needs the collective understanding, commitment, and action of every sector of society now and every day," he said.
No importation of sugar so far
Laurel also told the CA members the DA is not considering to import sugar for now, amid reports that the Philippines is set to import about 500,000 MT in 2024.
"Based on estimates namin with SRA (Sugar Regulatory Administration), which we've been meeting for the last two weeks, we feel that next year we don't need to import too much sugar dahil this year, medyo naparami nang kaunti 'yung importation ng sugar at marami pang stocks ngayon sa market," Laurel said. (We don't need to import too much sugar since this year there was some sugar importation and there's still adequate supply in the market.)
"The assessment of the DA, SRA, and the industry players show that we might need around 200,000 metric tons assuming that there are no adverse weather conditions," he added.
Laurel said he treats all facets of agriculture as equally important, and not just the production of rice — the national food staple. He said there is vast potential in fisheries, livestock, poultry, and high-value crops.
He said making investments and a career in agriculture profitable are essential to attract the next generation of farmers and fishermen, avoiding a food crisis in the coming decades.
"My vision for agriculture is to make it sustainable, profitable and appealing to the younger generation," he stressed.
