40 years in the service of agriculture

"I have always been a part of the Department of Agriculture family and I’m happy to be back home again!" This was how DA Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban described his feelings during the turnover ceremony with outgoing Secretary Arthur C. Yap recently. He promised his utmost best to best serve the paramount interest of agriculture and the farming communities of the country.

His administration, he said, "will be people-centered agriculture: For me, it has to be an agricultural modernization with a conscience, anchored on the principles of equity, sustainability and subsidiarity which means giving people at the local and grassroots level more power to take part in governance and share in the fruits of their work. Thus I promise to employ all the technical and managerial expertise I have acquired in 40 years in agriculture to make the DA and Philippine agriculture sector truly people-oriented."

"All our efforts at increasing agri-productivity and enhancing global competitiveness would have to focus on (1) ensuring food security for all our people; (2) increasing on-and-off farm jobs for our rural communities; and (3) improving rural incomes and quality of life for our farmers and fisheries. We have to start investing enough on productivity by enhancing instruments vital to agricultural growth such as research, irrigation, roads and other market-support infrastructure.

"We have to improve access to poor farmer, fishers and indigenous peoples to modern technology, credits, markets, agribusiness expertise and professional management system.

"All these," he continued," will have to be done in the context of good governance with the principles of transparency, accountability, consistency, participation and partnership. As a firm advocate of people’s participation and sharing of powers and responsibilities, I will further strengthen DA’s partnership with local government units (LGUs) and private sector, and civil society. We have to forge stronger cooperation between the academe and the LGI extension service systems."

This is the second time that Panganiban has been appointed secretary of agriculture. He was DA secretary from Jan. 8 to March 31, 2001. It was a shortlived term. But this time he is determined to do good with his experience in agriculture, with 40 years of work and dedication to the country’s agriculture.

Right after graduation in 1961 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), he was assigned as a plant pest control worker at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Zamboanga City. That served as the start of 40 years of work and dedication to the country’s agriculture.

From pest control officer (BPI-Tarlac); regional farm supervisor (BPI-Region III); concurrently deputy executive director (National Food and Agriculture Council); acting director (Bureau of Agricultural Extension); BPI director (Manila office); Deputy Minister (Ministry of Agriculture and Food); Presidential Assistant for Agriculture (Office of the President); DA undersecretary; acting administrator (National Food Authority) and then DA Secretary).

Private employment found him and he was tapped by Asia Brewery to set up a cattle fattening venture and by Agriventures to Gabon, Central Africa to do feasibility studies. He was also hired as senior specialist as consultant by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on the United Nations for rice production and technology in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia.

For his dedication to agriculture and expertise in running offices of agriculture and food, he was honored and given awards. Among them are: (1) Presidential Plaque of Merit from President Marcos for his "initiative, skills, effectiveness, dedication to duty, capacity to guide farmers colleagues and giving honor and credit to the BPI.

(2) In 1969, Outstanding Young Man (TOYM) from the Philippines Jaycees for "waging a successful campaign against blights for more bountiful harvest at crucial moment in Man’s struggle for freedom."

(3) Presidential Golden Plow Award for his "successful implementation of the world renowned Masagana 99; (4) Lingkod Bayan Award for "his outstanding service in the Career Service";

(5) Most Distinguished Alumnus of UPLB "for effective leadership in implementing the government agricultural programs leading to self-sufficiency in the 1970’s (6) Achievement Award for Crop Science Extension from Victorias Milling Company "for his meritor (7) Budiras Award "for outstanding performance in the field of food production; (8) PCCARRD Pantas Award "for his foresight and vision in giving research the importance it deserves within the Bureau of Plant Industry (9) one of the Outstanding Young Men and Women of Quezon City for his outstanding performance in the field of public office (10) Dangal ng Batangas Award "for his contribution to national efforts in food production."