BY Katrina Gracia Consebido
President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday afternoon, June 20, that he will be serving as the chief of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In his recent press briefing, Marcos Jr. said that the problem is “severe enough” in the agriculture sector that he came up with the decision on taking over the post.
“I think that the problem is severe enough that I have decided to take on the portfolio of secretary of agriculture at least for now,” he said, adding that this will be until the DA is reorganized “in the way that it will make it ready for the next years to come.”
He said there are changes that should be implemented, such as the retooling of DA offices that are idle for the post-pandemic situation of the country.
“Marami tayong kailangang palitan. Marami tayong mga iba’t ibang opisina na hindi na masyadong nagagamit or kailangan nang i-retool para sa post-pandemic dahil na iba na ang ating ginagawa ngayon,” he added.
The president-elect reiterated that he took the post to address the needs and changes in the agriculture sector, and to ensure prompt delivery of actions due to the fast paced movement of the global economy.
“That is why I thought it’s important that the president take that portfolio so that — not only to make it clear to everyone what a high priority we put on the agriculture sector, but also as a practical matter so that things move quickly because the events of the global economy are moving very quickly,” he said.
“We have to be able to be agile, we have to be able to respond properly in a measured way as soon as there is a situation that needs to be addressed,” he continued.
He added that they will have to start by going “back to basics” and “rebuild the value chain of agriculture.” – ag
