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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider CA exec pinpoints Laurel's biggest challenge as agriculture chief 

CA exec pinpoints Laurel's biggest challenge as agriculture chief 

Published Nov 26, 2023 09:31 am

At A Glance

  • Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel acknowledged on Sunday, Nov. 26 the hefty challenge that Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has to face as the country's new Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary.

20231126_171702.jpg DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (left), Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel (MANILA BULLETIN/ Facebook)



Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel acknowledged on Sunday, Nov. 26 the hefty challenge that Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has to face as the country's new Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary.

This, as the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA)--of which Pimentel is a ranking member--set Laurel’s confirmation hearing on Dec. 5.

“As far as we’re concerned, the biggest challenge that Secretary Tiu Laurel is facing now is how to swiftly modernize and boost the productivity of our agricultural sector,” Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader, said in a statement Sunday, Nov. 26.

“Right now, many Filipino families are struggling to put enough food on the table due to high prices,” Pimentel noted.

The Mindanaoan underscored the need for the Philippines to increase domestic food production "by leaps and bounds in the years ahead".

"This is the only way we can suppress unwanted upward pressures on food prices,” said the CA official.

“If we look at Taiwan and other countries that produce large food supplies, their economies are also the least vulnerable to global inflationary threats,” Pimentel added.

Laurel ran the family-owned Frabelle Group of Companies before he was appointed by President Marcos to head the DA last Nov. 5. Marcos himself acted as the previous agriculture chief.

The Frabelle Group of Companies holds diversified business through Frabelle Fishing Corp., Frabelle Cold Storage Corp., Westpac Meat Processing Corp., Eoana Canning and Food Processing Corp., Frabelle Shipyard Corp., and Frabelle Properties Corp.

The 25-member CA is empowered by the Constitution to vet the competence, fitness and integrity of key presidential appointees, including Cabinet members, and to approve or disapprove them.

Related Tags

committee on appointments Department of Agriculture (DA) Johnny Pimentel Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr
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