UPDATED MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday announced that Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In a last-minute press briefing in Malacañang, Marcos said he had just inaugurated Laurel.
“I have just administered the oath of office for the new secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Francisco Laurel. And, this is because it is time that we have found somebody who understands very well the problems that agriculture is facing,” said Marcos in the briefing.
NEW LEADERSHIP: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. swears in Fracisco Laurel Jr. as the Department of Agriculture Secretary. The ceremony was held on Friday, November 3, 2023. | PHOTO: PCO
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Before Laurel, Marcos had held the position of DA Secretary for more than a year.
Marcos explained that he had held onto the position because he believed that the problems in the agency could only be solved by the President.
“I think I was proven right that there are many things that only a president could do and the problems were so important and were so deep that I felt that the authority and the, I suppose, moral suasion of a president was necessary for us to be able to figure out,” Marcos said.
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Marcos called Laurel a longtime friend, saying that they’ve known each other since they were children.
“I’ve known him since we were boys. So, malakas ang loob ko na ma-i-appoint siya kasi kilala ko pagkatao niya. Alam kong napakasipag nito, unang-una. Pangalawa ay nauunawaan niya nang mabuti ang sistema ng agrikultura dito sa Pilipinas,” said Marcos.
(I am confident in appointing him because I know his personality. I know he works hard, first of all. Second, he understands Philippine agriculture well.)
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