Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has commended Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for creating a blacklisting committee in the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Laurel has designated DA Legal Service Director Willie Ann Angsiy and Procurement Division Chief Melinda Deyto as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the blacklisting committee.
“Matagal ko nang kilala si Secretary Laurel, at hindi magnanakaw ‘yan. Hindi rin ‘yan madaling madala ika nga sa pananakot o anumang uri ng panloloko (I've known Secretary Laurel for a long time, and he is no thief. He is also not easily intimidated or engaged in any kind of fraud),” Escudero said in an interview.
“Umaasa ako na sa binuo niyang committee na ito ay tunay ngang ma-identify ‘yong mga totoong hoarders at mga smugglers (I hope that with the committee he formed, the real hoarders and smugglers will be identified),” he said.
The Secretary earlier released Special Order 11 creating the DA’s central blacklisting committee to strengthen the government’s drive against unscrupulous manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, consultants as well as hoarders and smugglers of agricultural products as part of the major changes he promised under his leadership.
He also appointed DA Internal Audit Service Director Christopher Bañas to be a member of the committee.
The senator, likewise, expressed his full support for Laurel’s decision to initiate organizational changes in DA just two months after President Marcos appointed him.
“Iyong kanyang revamp na ginagawa sa DA suportado ko rin dahil tulad ng sinumang bagong pasok na head of agency ay dapat mabigyan natin ng kalayaan na makapili at piliin kung sino ‘yong mapagkakatiwalaan niya at maasahan niyang gumawa ng trabahong nais niyang makita sa kaniyang kagawaran (I also support the revamp that is being done in the DA because like any new head of agency, we should give him the freedom to pick and choose who he can trust and can count on to do the work he wants to see in his department),” Escudero stressed.
“Buo ang pag-asa ko na sa kanyang liderato, maiaayos ni Secretary Laurel at ma-maximize niya ‘yong mga resources na binigay sa sektor ng agrikultura para mapataas ang ating GDP (gross domestic product) sa nasabing sektor (I have full hope that with his leadership, Secretary Laurel will be able to organize and maximize the resources given to the agriculture sector to increase our GDP in the said sector),” he said.