By Frances Pio
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Pamumunuan ni President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang Department of Agriculture (DA) kasabay ng kanyang pamamahala bilang pangulo sa unang bahagi ng kanyang administrasyon.
Si Marcos mismo ang nagpahayag nito nitong Lunes bago ang kanyang panunumpa bilang pangulo ngayong Hunyo 30.
“As for 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,” sinabi ni Marcos.
“At least until we can re-organize the Department of Agriculture in the way that will make it ready for the next years to come,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Marcos na ang hakbang upang pamunuan ang Department of Agriculture na “make it clear to everyone what a high priority we put on the agriculture sector.”
“We’re going back to basics and trying and we will rebuild the value chain of agriculture. And that is why I thought 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 agriculture sector,” sinabi ni Marcos.
[It is also] a practical matter so that things move quickly because the events of the global economy are moving very quickly. We have to be able to be agile, we have to be able to respond properly in a measured way as soon as there is a situation that needs to be addressed,” dagdag niya.
Ayon kay Marcos, may dalawang bagay na naisip niyang dapat niyang bigyang-priyoridad habang ginagampanan niya ang tungkulin: pataasin ang produksyon ng bigas, at muling organisahin ang departamento.