PBBM Appoints New DA Chief And Instructs Price Control For Agri Products

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed business tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as the new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and instructed him to ensure that the prices of agricultural commodities are controlled or regulated.

Newly-appointed DA Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed his intention to initially meet with DA executives and employees, hoping for their unified support under his leadership. He emphasized the importance of their full cooperation to achieve common goals. I Photo: PCO

The president mentioned that he has already discussed the administration's goals for the agriculture sector with Laurel and his first directive was for the new DA chief to "try and gain control of the prices of all agricultural commodities that are going up."

"In the immediate term, kailangan natin ma-control at tingnan natin kung paano natin gagawin," Marcos said, meaning "we need to gain control [of the prices] and study how we will do it."

Marcos also ordered Laurel to take measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and increase productivity in the agriculture and fishery sectors.

He emphasized that the Philippines is collaborating with neighboring countries, particularly those in the ASEAN region, to improve practices and technology in the agricultural sector.

"We are studying the measures being undertaken by our neighboring countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam and see what we can learn from them that we can also undertake here," the president stated.

In response, Secretary Laurel expressed his intention to initially meet with DA executives and employees, hoping for their unified support under his leadership. He emphasized the importance of their full cooperation to achieve common goals, including modernization and increased production in the department.

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem