MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said Friday he appointed fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. as the new head of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Marcos, who held the agriculture portfolio for over a year, said Laurel took his oath of office earlier in the day.

Laurel heads Frabelle Fishing Corporation, which specializes on fresh, frozen, and processed seafood.

"We have found somebody who understands very well the problems that agriculture is facing," Marcos said in a Palace briefing. "The reason for the timing [of his appointment]... is that now we are confident that we have a fair understanding, a good understanding of what needs to be done."

"I have known him since we were boys, kaya malakas ang loob ko na ma-appoint siya kasi kilala ko ang pagkatao niya. Alam kong napakasipag nito," he added.

Video from RTVM

The President said Laurel understood the different facets of agriculture and had worked in the sector for "a very long time."

Marcos said he was banking on the new DA chief to form strategies to mitigate climate change's impact on farmers and fisherfolk.

"Nauunawaan niya hindi lamang kung ano ang problema, kung hindi ang mga solusyon sa problemang yun. Bukod pa roon, kilala na niya ang mga taong, yung tinatawag na mga expert, professional. Madali niyang lapitan," the President said.

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Laurel said he would focus on agricultural production and modernization as DA chief.

"Layunin ko na tiyakin na may sapat at may masustansyang pagkain na mabibili ang ating mga kababayan sa tamang halaga. Susi dito ang modernisasyon ng sektor ng agrikultura kasabay ng pagbubuti sa kapakanan ng mga kapatid nating magsasaka at mangingisda," Laurel said.

"Lubos akong naniniwala na kaya nating mapalago ang produksyon ng agrikultura sa tulong ng ating Presidente. Ngunit hindi ko ito kakayanin nang mag-isa," he said.

In a statement, fishers' group Pamalakaya urged Laurel to shun liberalization policies such as the importation of agri-fisheries products, which they said usually takes a toll on local food producers.

From 2018 to 2022, some 200,000 metric tons of fish was imported, which Pamalakaya said was an insult to the local fishery sector.

"The DA Secretary should know that opening floodgates for imported fishery products poses drastic impacts to the livelihood of local fisherfolk. Cheap and inferior quality imported fish causes further price drop of local fishery products," it said.

Pamalakaya also urged Laurel to provide assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by natural calamities, and ensure subsidies to help them cope with oil price hikes and inflation.

There should also be "prohibition of all forms of conversion and reclamation of coastal communities and fishing grounds that cause displacement of fisherfolk and irreversible destruction of marine and aquatic resources," the group said.

MARCHING ORDER

Marcos Jr's first order of business to Laurel was to "gain control of the prices of all the agricultural commodities," which he said had gone up.

"Tinatamaan tayo ng climate change... alam niyo nang lahat ang swine flu, alam niyo nang lahat ang avian flu na tumatama sa atin. Yan ang una nating... immediate term," he said.

He directed the top agriculture official to focus on the cost of farm production and mechanization.

"Tinitingnan natin ang ginagawa ng ating karatig-bansa... at baka mayroon tayong matututunan sa kanila na puwede nating [magamit] dito sa Pilipinas," he said.

The businessman was part of the President's Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC). He is also the chairman and president of the Agusan Power Corporation.

He has served as the honorary consul of the Consulate of the Federated States of Micronesia in the Philippines since 2006, his office said in a release.

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Aside from leading Frabelle, Laurel also holds positions in the following companies:

• Chairman, Westpac Meat Processing
• President, Markham Resources Corporation
• Chairman, Diamond Export Corporation
• President, Bacoor Seafront Development Corporation
• Chairman/President, Bukidnon Hydro Energy Corporation

"Mr. Laurel trained in refrigeration, net manufacturing, engine overhauling, electronics, hydraulics, food manufacturing, shipbuilding, and ship repair," his release read.

Marcos Jr. previously said he wanted an agricultural expert to head the DA.