President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on Friday that he has appointed Francisco Laurel Jr. as the new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Marcos expressed confidence in Laurel’s understanding of the challenges faced by the agriculture sector.
During a last-minute press briefing in Malacañang, Marcos stated that he had recently administered the oath of office to Laurel.
Marcos had previously held the position of DA Secretary for over a year, believing that the challenges in the agency required the direct involvement of the President.
“I think I was proven right that there are many things that only a president could do, and the problems were so important and deep that I felt the authority and moral suasion of a president was necessary for us to figure out,” Marcos explained.
Marcos emphasized his long-standing friendship with Laurel and assured that he is well-equipped for the role.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 3, 2023
