MANILA (UPDATE) - President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will head the Department of Agriculture in a concurrent capacity when he assumes office on June 30, he said Monday.

"As to agriculture, I think that the problem is severe enough that I have decided to take on the portfolio of Secretary of Agriculture, at least for now and at least until we can reorganize the Department of Agriculture in the way that will make it ready for the next years to come," Marcos told a news conference.

"Marami tayong mga kailangan palitan. Marami tayong mga, medyo mga iba't ibang opisina na hindi na masyadong nagagamit o kailangan nang i-retool para sa post-pandemic, dahil nga iba na yung ating ginagawa ngayon," he added.

(We need to change many things. There are offices that are no longer useful, or need retooling post-pandemic, since things are being done differently now.)

"We're going back to basics, and we will rebuild the value chain of agriculture. That is why I though it is important that the President take that portfolio so that not only to make it clear to everyone what a high priority we put on the agricultural sector, but also as a practical matter so that things move quickly, because the events of the global economy are moving very quickly."

Marcos earlier said that food security was going to be a priority of his administration.

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Under the constitution, the president "has the mandate of control over all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices," which covers the "restructuring, reconfiguring, and appointments of their respective officials."

Last year, SINAG and other agri groups called out President Rodrigo Duterte for describing the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law as one of his administration's achievements. Rosendo So, chairman of SINAG, said rice prices at that time went up despite the liberalized rice imports.

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"We have to be agile. We have to be able to respond properly as soon as there is a situation that needs to be addressed," Marcos said.

“From the very beginning, I have always said that agriculture is going to be a critical and foundational part of our economic development and transformation as we anticipate the post-pandemic economy and furthermore, in response to the events in Ukraine which has affected the Philippines in agriculture and food supply," he added.

He said the government is not “so well-funded that we can cover all the different areas and sectors of the economy.”

Marcos said that after consultations with his economic team, they have begun to solidify his administration's economic plans.

AGRI GROUPS' REACTION

So, the chairman of SINAG, expressed his support for Marcos, saying it is "good news" for the country's agriculture sector.

"That is a good news for Philippine agriculture. The DA (is) so corrupt from palay seeds to importation. The incoming president should clean everything. We will support the president," he said.

But for the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Pamalakaya Pilipinas, Marcos as agriculture chief will only worsen the situation.

"We reject Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. as agriculture chief. At the very least, Marcos Jr. assigning himself as agriculture chief "for now" further exposes the unpreparedness of his coming administration," KMP said in a statement.

"Why is a president-elect with a supposed 31 million-strong mandate seemingly left alone to handle the lingering crisis of our local agriculture? Wala na ba talagang iba?" it added.

KMP said Marcos is "grossly unqualified" to face the looming food crisis in the country.

"In both cases, Marcos Jr. is grossly unqualified to face the food crisis which various experts have warned will worsen. He has no track record whatsoever in agriculture to stand upon," it said.

"In his many years as a legislator, he has not authored or co-authored any law beneficial to farmers. He has ignored even the Free Irrigation Services Act (FISA). Despite his many years in the local government of Ilocos, its farm lots remain among the smallest, and its farmworkers receive among the lowest wages," KMP added.

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Pamalakaya also expressed doubt that Marcos can address the problems the agri-fisheries sector is currently facing.

"Aside from not having any background in the agriculture, it can be recalled that he didn’t have any plans to support the ailing sector during his campaign," it said.

He should take decisive measures that will strengthen and uplift the productivity of local farmers and fishers across the country.

Embracing the same liberalization policies of his predecessor William Dar will further bankrupt the agri-fisheries sector.

— Pamalakaya Pilipinas (@pama_pil) June 20, 2022

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