Bongbong Marcos Will Also Head the Department of Agriculture… For Now
It's happening. The country's 17th president will soon be sworn in. President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong Marcos" Jr. is just days away from his inauguration at the National Museum in Manila City on June 30. And so far, he's created what seems to be a sound, competent economic team.
Marcos Jr. has also been rounding out his team in recent days, with the appointments of Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra as the administration's Solicitor General, and former Senate President and state lifer Juan Ponce Enrile as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. Yes, we've heard these names before and we're going to hear more about them again.
One of the last vacancies in his Cabinet, meanwhile, was the Department of Agriculture post. And it looks like Marcos Jr. is going to lead the agency himself.
"As to agriculture, I think that problem is severe enough that I have decided to take on the portfolio of secretary of Agriculture, at least for now… At least until we can re-organize the Department of Agriculture in a way that will make it ready for the next years to come,” he told reporters in a press briefing at the Marcos headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
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Why? Marcos said he wants to do an overhaul of sorts of the department. "Marami tayong mga kailangan palitan, marami tayong mga iba't-ibang opisina na hindi na masyadong nagagamit o kailngan nang i-retool para sa post-pandemic dahil nga iba na nag ating ginagawa ngayon," he said. "We're going back to basics and we will rebuild the value chain of agriculture. And that is why it is important the president take that porfolio."
The current agriculture secretary is William Dar, who had assumed office back in August 5, 2019. Dar was a vocal supporter of the president-elect during this year's elections. He had previously expressed that he would be willing to continue the "Duterte legacy" in the next administration.
