News Release

PBBM on decision to remain as agri chief: ‘It will take a president to turn it around’


It will take a president to reorganize and solve “deeply embedded” issues in the agriculture department, President Ferdinand R. Marcos said on Thursday.

When asked by members of the media why he has remained to take on the agriculture portfolio, the President said he is giving his “full attention to the department.”

“There are things that a President can do that a secretary cannot, especially because precisely the reason that you gave. The problems are so difficult that it will take a president to change and turn it around,” Marcos said in an interview.

The chief executive said agriculture officials have expressed support for his move to remain as DA chief, adding that issues hounding the agriculture sector are “deeply embedded.”

“And the reason that I stay on up to now I have actually raised the subject with some of the — some of the staff and the employees and the secretaries in the DA, and they asked me not to,” said Marcos.

“Very deeply embedded ang mga problema natin sa agrikultura. Ito ay nangyari sa nakaraang napakaraming taon. Kaya’t hindi ganoon kabilis, hindi ganoon kadali na ibalik sa ating magandang sistema dati. Kaya’t I think I am still needed there,” he pointed out.

Marcos earlier said he has three “dreams” for the country’s agriculture sector –– sustainable livelihood for farmers, affordable food for all, and food security.

The President said he wants the Philippines to attain food self-sufficiency by prioritizing local production over food importation. (PND)