ILOILO City – Despite some skepticism, Sen. Cynthia Villar and Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. are confident in the appointment of fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said she respects the decision of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to have Laurel as full-pledged secretary of DA.
“Let us watch if magiging maganda naman ang performance niya at tutulungan tayo,” she told Panay News on Wednesday morning, Nov. 8. The senator was in the city as a guest of honor at the three-day Coffee, Cacao, and Coconut (CoCaNut) National Congress held at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao district.
With his background as a successful businessman in the fishing industry, Villar said Laurel could be trusted to do the job well.
But he has one crucial thing to do, she said.
“Kailangang mahalin niya ‘yong mga small fisherfolks, kasi ano sia eh, fishing company, commercial fishing, mas hindi niya maintindihan ‘yong buhay ng small fisherfolks. Dapat intindihin niya yon, kasi that is very important kasi mas mahihirap ‘yon ‘yong ang tinutulungan natin. Hindi naman natin tinutulungan ang mayayaman kasi they can take care of themselves,” the senator said.
Similarly, Defensor welcomes Laurel’s appointment, adding that his experience could be relied on.
The governor is also confident that the good collaboration between the provincial government and the A in developing or helping the rice industry and fishery sector in Iloilo will continue.
“Maayo man nga for a change, we have someone from the fisheries sector, pero we are confident nga indi pagpabay-an ang aton rice industry. We have been working with the DA for our rice industry, pila na ka tuig ang nagliligad, and we are doing well in our collaboration with the DA in developing the rice industry of the province. We will continue to work with the DA for fisheries and rice industry,” Defensor told Panay News during the opening ceremony of the CoCaNut National Congress.
Antique’s Vice Gov. Edgar Denosta supported this, saying the President would not appoint an unworthy official.
“Ang bag-o naton nga secretary expert sa business, especially sa fishing… Indi man ni mag-appoint si PBBM sa indi niya masaligan,” said Denosta, who also attended the CoCaNut National Congress.
He also hopes that small fishermen and farmers would be given utmost importance./PN
