Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 6) — Newly-appointed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is looking at creating an intelligence group to combat corruption in his department and to come up with accurate data on the Philippines’ agriculture production as part of his reforms for the agency.
Reporters on Monday asked Laurel’s plans regarding corruption allegations in the Department of Agriculture (DA). He replied that he “[does] not have real-hand proof” about those.
“I will be creating my own intelligence group,” he said during his first briefing as the agri chief. “One of the directives ni presidente is kung may dumi diyan, clean it up, ‘yan ang isa sa pinakaunang sinabi sa akin ng presidente.”
[Translation: One of the directives of the president is if there is dirt, clean it up. That’s one of the first things he told me.]
When asked if officials found to be involved in corruption will be dismissed, Laurel answered: “We don’t know.”
He also said that Marcos wants the agency to continue its anti-smuggling and anti-hoarding campaign, reiterating that they will go after agri smugglers.
“In the near future, meron kaming ilalabas bagong administrative orders, projects, para sa origin pa lang ma-address na ito,” he said.
[Translation: In the near future, we will issue new administration orders and projects so that we can address smuggling at its source.]
In January, AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones claimed Agriculture and Customs officials conspired with onion smugglers, leading to the present crisis which has affected farmers and consumers. The Bureau of Customs denied the accusation.
The next month, Israel Reguyal, chairman of Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative, accused the DA of conspiring with an agricultural trader linked to hoarding and smuggling to exacerbate onion supply issues and force the government to resort to importation.
On Oct. 12, the Department of Justice named three DA officials who will face criminal and administrative complaints in relation to onion smuggling that led to the spike in prices late last year.
Meanwhile, Marcos has named four groups allegedly involved in manipulating the rice situation in local markets. He earlier said hoarders and smugglers were behind the sudden uptick in rice prices.
Accurate production data sought
Laurel also wants to have more accurate data on agriculture production, saying he wants to revive the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics to address this problem.
He raised this when he was asked how he will address the issue of the alleged over-importation of meat and poultry products in the country.
“The problem I have now is medyo incomplete ang data that is available to me and Usec. Domingo Panganiban, ‘yong data natin hindi ka-accurate (our data is not that accurate). I’m not blaming anybody on this,” he said.
“Hindi ako pro-importation (I am not pro-importation), I am pro-production,” he told reporters.
“We have to import when it’s needed but in order to make a right balance, we have to have the right data to manage properly para mas masaya lahat (so that everyone will be happy),” he added.
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Other plans
Laurel, who was appointed on Nov. 3, said he has yet to consult the current DA team regarding policies and other solutions he has to address issues affecting agriculture, such as El Niño.
“This is my first day. Within this week siguro maso-sort out na namin, magkakaroon kami ng (we would be sorting out to come up with a) common direction to address that (El Niño) situation,” he said.
The newly-appointed DA chief said he is also set to review previously set targets for agriculture and will provide figures regarding the sector’s progress in two weeks.
Another plan of Laurel, a fishing tycoon, is improving the country’s aquaculture and mariculture to boost the livelihood of small-scale fishers.
He said he will be visiting provinces to personally hear from farmers and fisherfolk their demands.
