At A Glance
- House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe says President Marcos Jr. made "a perfect choice" in selecting Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as the new Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary.
Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe (Contributed photo)
House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe says President Marcos Jr. made “a perfect choice” in selecting Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as the new Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary.
On Friday, Nov. 3, Marcos announced fishing magnate Laurel as the new full-time DA chief. Before this, the President had essentially served as the country’s agriculture secretary for the entirety of his term.
"We welcome President Marcos' decision to appoint Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as the new head of the Department of Agriculture. With Mr. Laurel's extensive experience in the fishing and agricultural sectors, I believe he is well-suited to address the challenges our agricultural industry faces," Dalipe said in a statement shortly after the announcement.
Dalipe noted Laurel’s vast experience in the fishing sector and food production as advantageous in helping the Marcos administration craft the best strategy to ensure food security.
Before this appointment, Laurel headed the Frabelle Fishing Corporation. The company is known for its specialization in fresh, frozen, and processed seafood.
“His familiarity with the importance of having cutting-edge technologies for food preservation and storage will translate to lesser food wastage and longer shelf life for the country’s agricultural produce,” the Zamboanga City 2nd district congressman said of Laurel.
“Every year, billions worth of agricultural products go to waste because we have not been investing in storage and preservation facilities. This appointment of Secretary Laurel in the DA would hopefully change that,” Dalipe added.
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Alongside the fishing company, the newly-appointed DA chief also served as president of the Agusan Power Corporation.
Dalipe said these experiences demonstrate Laurel’s commitment to various aspects of agriculture.
"It is essential that we have a leader who understands the complex issues surrounding agriculture and can work towards modernization and food security, not only to boost production but also to increase the shelf life of our agricultural produce,” he said.
“I look forward to collaborating with the new DA chief and the administration to achieve these goals for the benefit of our people,” he added. --Dexter Barro II