President Marcos turns over DA post to fishing tycoon

MANILA, Philippines — After more than a year of running the Department of Agriculture (DA), President Marcos has handed over the post to his long-time friend, fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., with the first marching orders to boost production and bring down food prices.

Marcos announced Laurel’s appointment during a press conference on Friday morning at Malacañang after administering the latter’s oath of office.

“It is time that we have found somebody who understands very well the problems that agriculture is facing,” Marcos said of Laurel, who was standing next to him.

Laurel served as president of Frabelle Fishing Corp., the world’s third largest tuna fishing company, from 1985 to Oct. 31 this year. He was also a member of the Private Sector Advisory Council-Agriculture Sector Group.

Marcos said he is banking on Laurel’s years of experience in the fishing industry. “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 said.

Marcos also vouched for Laurel’s integrity and competence to lead the DA, which the Chief Executive said is one of the most important government agencies.

“I have known Secretary Laurel for a long time. I’ve known him since we were boys. So, I am confident in appointing him because I know his qualities. First of all, I know he’s hard working. Second, he understands well the agricultural system here in the Philippines,” Marcos said. “So, we all expect that he will do a very good job.”

Laurel was one of Marcos’ top donors in the 2022 presidential elections, according to a Bilyonaryo.com report last month.

The President said he decided to name a full-time agriculture chief after finally coming up with “very good idea” to address the challenges faced by the sector.

Asked about his first marching orders to Laurel, Marcos said gaining control over rising prices of agricultural goods is an issue that needs to be immediately resolved. 

“The obvious one is try and gain control of the prices of all the agricultural commodities that are going up,” Marcos said.

Agri stakeholders and various farmers’ groups backed the