MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Monday former agriculture secretary Manny Piñol as chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Piñol was appointed to his new post on the same day his successor William Dar took over the leadership of the Department of Agriculture as acting secretary.

Duterte earlier said he wanted Piñol to lead the Mindanao development agency because he knows the terrain in the region. Piñol will serve as MinDA chair for 6 years.

In a Facebook post, Piñol said he was supposed to take his oath as MinDA chair on Monday but “asked for a short vacation which my tired body has been craving for.”

He also apologized to farmers and fishermen for his shortcomings during his stint as agriculture chief.

“I thank everybody who supported me and I offer my apologies to the farmers and fishermen who may not have been served well enough. Pasensya na po sa mga pagkukulang ko (sorry for my shortcomings),” he said.

As MinDA chair, Piñol said he would handle agriculture and economic issues of Mindanao but with “special focus” on the new Bangsamoro region.

“In this new assignment, I will work just as hard as when I was Secretary of Agriculture,” he said.