Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. is weeding out not only the bad eggs among agricultural importers but also underperformers in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) senior management team.
Tiu Laurel told reporters last Monday night, Dec. 16, that five more importers — three of fish, as well as two of meat products — would soon be part of the DA’s blacklist. He didn’t disclose their identities.
“And more are coming,” Tiu Laurel added.
To recall, the DA last Dec. 10 announced that during the last six months, it blacklisted 10 import companies which allegedly engaged in illegal trade and smuggling.
Tiu Laurel had noted that the number of firms blacklisted under his watch as DA chief already surpassed the preceding six years’ total.
Republic Act (RA) No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act enacted just last October is expected to enhance the DA and the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) enforcement powers against unscrupulous traders.
Alongside this anti-agricultural smuggling campaign, Tiu Laurel lamented that at least two high-ranking DA officials, who he did not identify, haven’t met his “quite high” expectations yet.
Tiu Laurel is DA chief for only over a year now, or since November 2023 when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—who also served as Agriculture Secretary when he assumed office in July 2022—appointed him to the position.
“Ang ayaw ko lang sa kanila, ako pa ang kailangang tumutok para matapos [The only thing I don't like about them, is that I’m the one who has to focus to get things done],” Tiu Laurel disclosed.
Tiu Laurel revealed he’s giving his two subordinates a six-month ultimatum, or until the middle of next year to shape up.
Despite his warning to these officials, Tiu Laurel is hopeful they won’t get demoralized and would be able to catch up.