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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos stays as Agri chief, says he's 'still needed there'

Marcos stays as Agri chief, says he's 'still needed there'

Published Oct 20, 2022 06:33 pm

"I am still needed there."

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo by Noel Pabalate)

This was President Marcos' statement over calls for him to appoint a full-time secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) amid pressing agriculture issues.

Marcos said he is staying as the Agriculture secretary, which he holds in a concurrent capacity, simply because there are "things" that only the President can do, especially over years-long and deeply-rooted problems in the department.

"There are things that the President can do that the Secretary cannot," he said in a media interview on Thursday, Oct. 20.

He stressed that the problems in the agriculture sector are "so difficult that it will take a president to change and turn it around."

He said that these problems cannot be solved promptly and cannot be overturned instantly, thus his decision to stay as the secretary.

"Kaya't (So) I think I'm still needed there," he said.

The President, however, said that he will have to relinquish the title once the functions in the DA are properly institutionalized and necessary changes are made.

"So I think when we are able to say that the DA’s functions are properly institutionalized and the structural changes that we need to make in the DA have been made and the appointments in the DA have already been made then saka ako bibitaw (I will step down)," he said.

"Because then they don’t need me anymore, they don’t need the president heading the department," he added.

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Bongbong Marcos department of agriculture President Marcos
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