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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Laurel can beat any summa cum laude in the realm of agriculture, says Barbers 

Laurel can beat any summa cum laude in the realm of agriculture, says Barbers 

Published Nov 14, 2023 07:49 am

At A Glance

  • As far as Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is concerned, no summa cum laude graduate can beat Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. when it comes to the subject of agriculture. 
  •  

20231114_150729.jpgSurigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left), DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (MANILA BULLETIN)

No summa cum laude graduate can best Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. when it comes to agriculture.

Majority congressman Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers had this to say Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 14 in response to commentaries on Laurel's lack of formal college degree.

Laurel is the current Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary, the successor of no less than President Marcos in the agency.

“A college degree while desirable does not make a holder qualified for any and all employment positions that he or she may desire or apply in. As a matter of fact, in all employment applications, experience is always required and is an obvious advantage. We always say and acknowledge that ‘experience is the best teacher," Barbers said.

"In the case of Agriculture Secretary Tiu-Laurel, who would say that he lacks the necessary tools, expertise and know-how to better run the agriculture portfolio when we all know that he has spent almost 40 years of his life in the industry," asked the Mindanaoan.

"I am confident that no summa cum laude candidate can beat him in this arena,” Barbers stressed.

On Monday, then newly-installed DA chief clarified that he wasn't an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), as claimed in an online biography. UST is a university in Sampaloc, Manila.

Laurel said he never finished his studies because he became a father at age 19.

Barbers said he fully supports President Marcos' appointment of Laurel. "I unconditionally support the appointment of Secretary Laurel-Tiu and offer him any and all assistance that he needs to run the department full speed ahead in service of the people,” he said.

“I call on everyone to support him so that we can achieve at the soonest possible time our goals of food security and self-sufficiency. This should be our focus instead of finding faults and loopholes where there exists none,” Barbers said.

Related Tags

Robert Ace Barbers Department of Agriculture (DA) summa cum laude Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr
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