Two senior execs leave agri dept amid reshuffle of officials

Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='The Department of Agriculture's main building in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/tvpatrol/01/05/20170817-department-agriculture-da-md-3.jpg' ><figcaption>The Department of Agriculture's main building in Quezon City. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Two senior executives have left the Department of Agriculture, in the middle of a leadership reshuffle initiated by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.</p><p>Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, who was second-in-command when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was secretary, bid goodbye to the agency on January 1.</p><p>He was given the Service Recognition Award last December 2023.</p><p>Panganiban earlier said his service to the agency was transitory, until Marcos Jr. could appoint a permanent secretary.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/03/23/fishing-tycoon-francisco-tiu-laurel-jr-named-agriculture-chief'>Marcos gives up agri portfolio, appoints fishing tycoon as agriculture chief</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/04/23/laurels-da-appointment-draws-mixed-reactions'>New Agri chief meets with DA officials; appointment draws mixed reactions</a></li></ul><p>Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, who handled the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program since February 2023, "opted to retire", said DA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa. Sebastian's retirement will take effect in February.</p><p>Prior to this, Laurel assigned Sebastian to be part of the Secretary Technical Advisory Group (STAG), "to leverage his deep understanding of the farm sector, particularly rice production."</p><p>In 2022, Sebastian, who was then the most senior undersecretary, faced a controversy for signing a sugar importation order in Marcos Jr.'s name.</p><p>Sebastian stepped down from his post that time, until he was reappointed to head the Masagana Rice Industry program early 2023.</p><p>Current Agriculture Secretary Laurel reshuffled major officials within his department.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/13/23/da-chief-clarifies-educational-background-i-quit-school-sea-became-my-university'>Agri chief clarifies educational background: 'I quit school, sea became my university'</a></li></ul><p>Director U-Nichols Manalo was assigned director of the national rice program, concurrent to his position as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Field Operations Service and director of the National Corn Program.</p><p>OIC-Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro will also act as OIC-Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, OIC-National Project Director of the Philippine Rural Development Project, and OIC-Assistant Secretary for Operations.</p><p>Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate was named Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations.</p><p>Meanwhile, Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla was assigned to oversee operations and coordinate programs of the DA Bureaus.</p><p>Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa was designated as full-time spokesman of the DA.</p><p>Chief Administrative Officer and OIC Director for Financial and Management Service Thelma Tolentino was appointed as Undersecretary-designate for Finance.</p><p>Undersecretary Agnes Catherine Miranda was tasked to oversee operations and coordinate programs of DA Attached Agencies and Corporations.</p><p>"Ang ating Secretary ngayon, ginagawa ito para mas maging episyente, mas maging epektibo ang operations and management ng ating Department as a whole," said De Mesa.</p><p>The spokesperson said there would be more movement within the agency in the coming months. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/23/urban-farming-pushed-to-address-food-production-issues'>Urban farming pushed to address food production issues</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/16/23/da-assures-stable-supply-of-rice-until-next-harvest-season'>DA assures stable supply of rice until next harvest season</a></li></ul><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KVxRBc88yi0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OzX5xhtAwb0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>Panganiban earlier said his service to the agency was transitory, until Marcos Jr. could appoint a permanent secretary.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/03/23/fishing-tycoon-francisco-tiu-laurel-jr-named-agriculture-chief'>Marcos gives up agri portfolio, appoints fishing tycoon as agriculture chief</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/04/23/laurels-da-appointment-draws-mixed-reactions'>New Agri chief meets with DA officials; appointment draws mixed reactions</a></li></ul><p>Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, who handled the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program since February 2023, "opted to retire", said DA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa. Sebastian's retirement will take effect in February.</p><p>Prior to this, Laurel assigned Sebastian to be part of the Secretary Technical Advisory Group (STAG), "to leverage his deep understanding of the farm sector, particularly rice production."</p><p>In 2022, Sebastian, who was then the most senior undersecretary, faced a controversy for signing a sugar importation order in Marcos Jr.'s name.</p><p>Sebastian stepped down from his post that time, until he was reappointed to head the Masagana Rice Industry program early 2023.</p><p>Current Agriculture Secretary Laurel reshuffled major officials within his department.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/13/23/da-chief-clarifies-educational-background-i-quit-school-sea-became-my-university'>Agri chief clarifies educational background: 'I quit school, sea became my university'</a></li></ul><p>Director U-Nichols Manalo was assigned director of the national rice program, concurrent to his position as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Field Operations Service and director of the National Corn Program.</p><p>OIC-Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro will also act as OIC-Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, OIC-National Project Director of the Philippine Rural Development Project, and OIC-Assistant Secretary for Operations.</p><p>Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate was named Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations.</p><p>Meanwhile, Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla was assigned to oversee operations and coordinate programs of the DA Bureaus.</p><p>Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa was designated as full-time spokesman of the DA.</p><p>Chief Administrative Officer and OIC Director for Financial and Management Service Thelma Tolentino was appointed as Undersecretary-designate for Finance.</p><p>Undersecretary Agnes Catherine Miranda was tasked to oversee operations and coordinate programs of DA Attached Agencies and Corporations.</p><p>"Ang ating Secretary ngayon, ginagawa ito para mas maging episyente, mas maging epektibo ang operations and management ng ating Department as a whole," said De Mesa.</p><p>The spokesperson said there would be more movement within the agency in the coming months. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/23/urban-farming-pushed-to-address-food-production-issues'>Urban farming pushed to address food production issues</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/16/23/da-assures-stable-supply-of-rice-until-next-harvest-season'>DA assures stable supply of rice until next harvest season</a></li></ul><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KVxRBc88yi0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OzX5xhtAwb0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, who was second-in-command when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was secretary, bid goodbye to the agency on January 1.</p><p>He was given the Service Recognition Award last December 2023.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='The Department of Agriculture's main building in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/tvpatrol/01/05/20170817-department-agriculture-da-md-3.jpg' ><figcaption>The Department of Agriculture's main building in Quezon City. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Two senior executives have left the Department of Agriculture, in the middle of a leadership reshuffle initiated by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.</p>

Two senior executives have left the Department of Agriculture, in the middle of a leadership reshuffle. 

Two senior execs leave agri dept amid reshuffle of officials | ABS-CBN News

News

News

Two senior execs leave agri dept amid reshuffle of officials

Two senior execs leave agri dept amid reshuffle of officials