President Marcos has appointed fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as Department of Agriculture secretary, relinquishing the Cabinet portfolio he held concurrently since he took office last year.
Marcos announced Laurel's appointment during a press briefing at the Malacañan Palace on Friday, Nov. 3.
"[I]t is time that we have found somebody who understands very well the problems that agriculture is facing," he told Malacañang reporters shortly after administering the oath of office of Laurel.
The President said he has finally appointed a full-time DA secretary because he is now confident that he found someone who understands the agriculture sector given Laurel's long-time experience in the fishery sector.
"I’d like also to put a little background to it, the reason for the timing is that now we are confident Secretary Kiko and I are confident that we have a fair understanding, a good understanding of what it is that needs to be done, what are the problems," he stressed.
Marcos took over a year to appoint a new DA chief as he believed that "there are many things that only a president could do."
"[A]nd the problems were so important and were so deep that I felt that the authority and the, I suppose moral suasion of a president was necessary for us to be able to figure out, and it really was, agriculture is a much much more complicated thing than most people understand," he said.
Laurel has been the president of Frabelle Fishing Corporation since 1985 and the director of Frabelle Corporation since 2010. He trained in refrigeration, net manufacturing, engine overhauling, electronics, hydraulics, food manufacturing, shipbuilding, and ship repair.
His appointment came as a confirmation of earlier rumors that he will be the next DA secretary. The Palace did not confirm those rumors.
'He will do a very good job'
Marcos is confident that Laurel will do "a very good job" as head of the Agriculture department, which he considers as "one of the most important departments in our government."
"Matagal ko nang kilala si Secretary Laurel. I've known him since we were boys so, malakas ang loob ko na mai-appoint siya kasi kilala ko ang pagkatao niya. Alam ko na napakasipag nito unang una; pangalawa, nauunawaan niya ng mabuti ang sistema ng agrikultura dito sa Pilipinas. Kaya't inaasahan natin lahat na he will do a very good job (I have known Secretary Laurel for a long time. I've known him since we were boys so I am confident to appoint him because I know his whole personality. I know that he is hardworking and he understands very well the system of agriculture here in the Philippines. So, I am expecting that he will do a good job)," the Chief Executive vouched.
Marcos also said that designating Laurel as Agriculture head is like tapping the private sector to join the government in its pursuit to solve the problems hounding the sector.
The President said Laurel understands these problems, the solutions needed to be done, and has a good network of experts who can help the government provide solutions to the agricultural problems.