Alcala swears in 28 DA officials

MANILA, Philippines –  Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala swore in 28 officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other DA bureaus and attached agencies, who were recently appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Alcala said they will form part of the DA team who will help attain the food self-sufficiency and security goals of the Aquino administration.

“I expect them to render their expertise in their respective fields and assist the Aquino government in achieving our major goals of uplifting the lives of small farmers and fisherfolk, attaining self-sufficiency in rice, white corn and other basic commodities, and producing sufficient and affordable food for the entire nation,” the DA chief said.

Of the 28 officials, 18 are new, while 10 are re-appointees. Six of them are DA regional directors (RDs); seven, head of bureaus and attached agencies; four, DA-Office of the Secretary (OSEC) directors; seven, assistant DA-RDs, agency deputies, and BFAR regional director; and four board members of the DA-Philippine Coconut Authority.

The DA’s regional directors are: Jose V. Dayao, Region 5 (re-appointee): Larry P. Nacionales, Region 6 (re-appointee; Lealyn Abellanosa-Ramos, Region 10 (re-appointee; Pedro Jerry D. Baliang, Region 3; Abelardo R. Bragas, Region 4-A; Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr., Cordillera Administrative Region.

Heads of bureaus and attached agencies: Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr., Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (re-appointee); Efren Nuestro, Director, Bureau of Animal Industry (re-appointee); Jovy C. Bernabe, President, Phil. Crop Insurance Corp. (re-appointee); Jane C. Bacayo, Exec. Director, National Meat Inspection Service; Grace J. Cenas, Administrator, National Dairy Authority; Edgardo D. Zaragoza, Administrator, National Tobacco Administration; Manuel R. Jarmin, Exec. Director, Livestock Development Council (LDC)

DA-OSEC directors: Ophelia D. Agawin, finance service (re-appointee); Agnes Catherine T. Miranda, planning service (re-appointee); Gary Glenn B. Fantastico, information technology center for agriculture and fisheries (ITCAF); Noel O. Reyes, information service (AFIS)

DA assistant RDs, attached agency deputies, and BFAR regional director: Crispulo G. Bautista, Region 1 (re-appointee); Paz L. Mones, Region 1 (re-appointee); Bernadette F. San Juan, Region 4-A; Felix G. Valenzuela, deputy exec. dir. (DED), LDC; Noel A. Juliano, DED, National Agriculture and Fishery Council; Augusto L. Canlas, DED, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority; Clemencio A. Reciproco, BFAR regional director

Philippine Coconut Authority board members: Ponciano A. Batugal; Cesar C. Villariba, Jr.; Rafael P. Sarucam; Marcos M. Dumandan