Malacañang retains Kalaw as head of aggie-fishery council

In a move obviously aimed at resolving with finality the ongoing power struggle at the National Agricultural and Fisheries Council (NAFC), President Estrada has expressed his intention to reappoint Valerio Kalaw as its executive director.

This was contained in a letter dated April 7 which the President sent to Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara, who chairs the NAFC.

Last March 30, Angara swore into office his long-time associate, lawyer Jovy Bernabe, as executive director.

Despite this, however, Kalaw did not relinquish his post in the light of a letter from the President dated April 4, telling Angara that "it is my desire that Mr. Valerio Kalaw continue as executive director of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council."

The President instructed Bernabe to continue serving as deputy director.

"With this letter from the President, I hope that this matter of a so-called 'turf war or leadership struggle' is put to a close so that we can continue to work as a team," Kalaw said in a statement.

"There are more things that the NAFC can accomplish, instead of everyone focusing their time and attention on internal bickerings," he added.

Kalaw said he views the President's new mandate as a challenge for him to exert extra effort to bring efficiency to the NAFC, and this, he added, "can be achieved only with everyone's full cooperation."

Palace sources said a new and formal appointment for Kalaw would be released soon.