Press Release - [EXCERPTS OF Q&A] Senator Risa Hontiveros during the CA hearing on the ad-interim appointment of DA Sec. Francisco Laurel Tiu Jr

Senator Risa Hontiveros (SRH): Tulad po ng lahat natin malapit po sa akin ang sektor ng magsasaka at mangingisda kaya matagal ko na sinasabi na hindi ito part-time job na bibigyang pansin lamang kung kailan maisipan. Kailangan ng tutok at malasakit, panahon at kakayahan sa harap ng sunod-sunod na kontrobersyang tumama sa sektor mula noong pumasok ang kasalukuyang administrasyon. Gusto ko simulan ang pagtatanong sa inyo, Mr. Secretary with the organizational situation and reform at the DA.

Mr. Secretary, malaki ang tiwala ng Pangulo sa paghirang sa inyo bilang kapalit niya. Puwede po bang ibahagi niyo sa amin kung ano ang inyong marching orders mula sa kanya? Kanina sinabi nyo mahigpit ang bilin nila tungkol sa linisin na agad and go after smugglers and increase productivity. Ano ang mga repormang inaasahang niyang gagawin niyo sa Kagawaran ng Agrikultura?

Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (LAUREL): Mr Chair first we have to reorganize the DA. From the org chart pa lang, we have a new org chart that we will be presenting to the DA family in January para malinaw yung line yung chain of command so streamlining of course, we also have a system we need to change some of the system to make it more investor-friendly, business-friendly, fisherfolk and farmer-friendly. We have to fix din the database for the farmers list and fisherfolk dahil maraming yatang hindi nasa listahan pa. So then of course, we will also have changes in basically sa digitalization that is very crucial we have to digitalize para to get accurate information on all aspects of agriculture, to name a few Mr Chair.

SRH: Salamat, Mr Secretary, and also for the fact that it's not too few, medyo malaman na ang unang sagot ninyo, something for the committee to sink our teeth into. At salamat na kasama sa sinabi nyo na magiging friendly yang department ay farmers at fisherfolk - hindi palaging sinasabi yun, and it's a great example na sa Cabinet trying to reflect and balance competing interests, na tamang dapat ang Department of Agriculture ang champion para sa farmers at fisherfolk. Salamat doon sa pagnanais nyo na maging mas farmers at fishefolk friendly ang DA.

Now dako na po sa susunod na tanong, tungkol sa