President Bongbong Marcos is not in a rush to appoint a full-time secretary for the Department of Agriculture (DA) despite criticisms that his moonlighting in such a key post has led to a surge in commodity prices, specifically sugar and onion.
In a briefing, Marcos said improving agriculture production and delivery from farm to tables was his main goal when he decided to take a direct hand in the DA six months ago.
“We come back to the problem of production. Once I know that the value chain has already been put together and we have the means – then, we will have a Secretary who will then take my place and will implement that plan. Basta’t alam nating nakakaintindi doon sa ating ginagawa,” Marcos said in an interview Monday night.
Marcos also felt the DA was in need of “some reorganization” or “restructuring the bureaucracy” for “the simple reason that we are doing different things from what they were doing before.”
Former Arroyo Cabinet Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao said Marcos’ decision to take charge of the DA was a “wrong move.”
“I can’t understand why Marcos took the job of concurrent agriculture secretary (which no other president has done) when he really hasn’t any experience in managing a huge bureaucracy nor does he have any expertise in agricultural production. Hubris, that only he alone could do the job?” he asked.
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