DA revamp in full swing as chief introduces reforms

MANILA, Philippines — The reorganization in the Department of Agriculture is now in full swing as newly installed Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. wants to introduce reforms in the DA, according to farmers’ group Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI).

“We support his plan to reorganize the DA to be more aggressive, motivated and improve its absorptive capacity, including the disbursement as there was a delay on the support assistance to the farmers so he is well aware of that,” PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said at a press conference.

Fausto added that it is sole discretion of Laurel if he will implement a total revamp at the DA.

He added that Laurel also committed to improve rice and vegetable production by providing irrigation systems in the upland areas.

“Some of our members brought to him the problem of upland vegetables and he said he already requested the President. He was able to get 10 percent of what is supposed to be given, about P25 million to irrigate our upland vegetables,” he added.

At the same time, Fausto said that he submitted an eight-page recommendation to Laurel including the reforms in the coconut industry,

“We need to replace 10 percent of our coconut trees. If we have 347 million trees, it’s about 34 million that we need to replace and an additional six million coconut trees damaged during calamities, so that is 40 million trees that we need to replace,” Laurel added.

Fausto added that he also recommended to Laurel the need to improve aquaculture as the production of commercial fishing is dwindling.

He added that Laurel also opposed the extension of Executive Order 10 extending EO 171 which reduced the Most Favored Nation tariff rates for key commodities such as meat of swine (fresh, chilled or frozen), maize (corn), rice and coal until Dec. 31.

“He opposed the definite extension of EO 10 as the recommendation is (a) one year extension,” he said.