Quite ironic that Mrs. Arroyo four years later, asked him to come on board.
Panganiban however, is beyond bitterness and resentment.
"Magtrabaho na tayo ngayon. (Work starts now)," his first marching order during the turnover ceremonies last Friday at the DA, was met by thunderous applause by employees who were elated at what they consider as his coming back home.
One of Panganiban’s priorities will be to reform the DA bureaucracy which has been largely criticized for being insensitive to the realities of its primary constituents, the farmers and fisherfolks still living in abject poverty.
While taking his oath of office in Malacañang last Friday, about 500 farmers and fisherfolk groups stormed the DA offices, vented their ire by mindlessly smashing doors and windows and demanding for more responsive programs to lift them out of their growing misery.
"Despite the presence of good people in the department, it is unfortunate that the operational systems of the DA now suffer from persistent top-down approach, lack of transparency and accountability, and a highly politicized and unstable organization. The DA structure is showing its age, having grown into a palpable maze of turfs and little fiefdoms that have been for many years, out of reach and scrutiny, even by the Secretary," said Panganiban.
Thus, the next few months will see some real changes at the DA.
"We’re not cutting off people, we will review their capabilities and match these with what our programs require to be really effective," said Panganiban.
Alongside internal reforms at the DA, Panganiban will also be intensifying efforts to better coordinate its programs with local government units (LGUs).
"The DA should be the steerer of programs at the field level. But we’re not doing that because these functions were devolved to the LGUs. That’s why we have to work with them and make sure our programs are being implemented in their areas. How do we do it? It’s a matter of talking to them and stressing the importance and urgency of taking actions. We can give them practical incentives such as providing gasoline money for technicians to be more mobile or provide infrastructure support such as farm-to-market roads. We have to nurture this relationship to the fullest."
Panganiban believes most of the existing DA programs such as increasing hybrid rice production and developing new agribusiness lands are sound but need to be more grounded on existing realities.
"There is emphasis on hybrid rice production but we also need to promote inbred rice varieties that can also match the yield that hybrid rice production promises. It would simply be a matter of identifying which areas are best suited for hybrid and for inbred and work resources from that approach."
On developing new agribusiness lands under Goal 2 of the DA program, Panganiban said the land limitations and other constraints should be considered.
"It’s an ambitious plan. Many LGUs have validated more area than what the capacity of the DA can provide to put up facilities. In some areas, expansion is possible, but maybe in existing areas like coconut lands for instance, what is required is mostly replanting and fertilization when you talk about this commodity, the agency concerned (Philippine Coconut Authority) should be able to provide the required planting materials. If it’s high-value crops, the Bureau of Plant Industry should provide the seeds, they should have the stockpile to respond immediately to the requirements of investors that want to venture into these things."
On the international trade front, Panganiban said the DA will have to carefully craft a position paper, that will address the concerns of local agricultural stakeholders.
"Definitely, we will push for special safeguard mechanisms and special products. We have to continue protecting our agriculture sector, we will not allow our country to be the dumping ground and compromise our stakeholders’ welfare," said Panganiban.
Despite being an old hand in the agriculture sector, it won’t be a stroll in the "farm" for Panganiban, who in 1967, as pest plant control officer of the Bureau of Plant Industry in Region 3, received the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines Award for his outstanding innovations and creativity in coming up with solutions to fight plant pests. This was to be followed by numerous awards, among them, the Presidential Golden Plow Award in 1974 for the successful implementation of the world-renowned Masagana 99 which saw the Philippines being self-sufficient in rice for the first time.
He realizes of course, that these are different times that might call for a totally different approach.
"There is a lot of work to be done. For one, I need to find out how the DA can be more effective at the field level. But people who know me realize that I work best under crisis situations I don’t think there’s a big problem that can’t be met. If for instance some people insist on a program implementation that is wrong, that is not working, I will personally take over the program."