Marcos not yet keen on leaving Department of Agriculture By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA Integrated News

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wants to ensure that "systems are all in place" before he leaves the Department of Agriculture, saying he's staying as Agriculture chief for now. In an ambush interview in Valenzuela City on Friday, Marcos was asked if he will already appoint an Agriculture chief after he already named Secretaries for the Department of Health and the Department of National Defense, which were previously led with officers-in-charge. The President has been sitting as DA Secretary since he assumed the presidency last year. Marcos joked that he already asked personalities to volunteer for the post, but they do not want him to leave the DA. "Marami, tinatanong ko sa kanila lahat, inaantay ko mag-volunteer sila mag-Secretary, ayaw ako paalisin eh. So, hangga't matapos... the truth of the matter is that we have really managed to make some very important structural changes in the Department of Agriculture so iniisa-isa natin 'yan," Marcos said. The President explained that the country had experienced crisis when it came to food supply and food prices during the pandemic, noting that he wants to address these first, especially the country's food production. "The problem had been was during the beginning of this year, naging crisis lahat ng food supply, food prices, lahat, fertilizer prices, etc. Kaya napakalaking bagay nitong donation na binigay sa atin ng China. 'Yun, we were just trying to put up emergency measures para naman mabigyan natin ng kaunting tulong at suporta ang ating magsasaka," Marcos said. "Ngayon, more or less the prices of agriculture commodities are beginning, they have not yet been stabilized, are beginning to stabilize. Now, we are going to make the structural changes that are important to increase production, to ensure the food supply of the Philippines, not only rice but also pork, also fisheries, also livestock, so 'yan ang ating mga ginagawa ngayon para naman hindi na tayo umabot sa krisis, sa sitwasyon, kagaya ng nadatnan natin after the pandemic," he added. Before leaving the agency, Marcos wants to guarantee the country's food supply, the affordable prices of food commodities, and a better livelihood for local farmers. "Ang aking hangarin para sa DA ay pag iniwanan ko ang DA, by that time, we will have systems in place so that we can guarantee the food supply of the Philippines, number one, we can guarantee that the prices are affordable, and number three, that our farmers make a good living," Marcos said. "So, hangga't matapos natin 'yun, I suppose you will just have to put up with me as DA Secretary," he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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