NEDA chief: No offer to head DA

MANILA, Philippines — Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has doused speculation that he is being tapped to replace President Marcos as secretary of agriculture.

“No such offer,” Balisacan told The STAR in a text message yesterday when asked if he was being recruited as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

There have been speculative reports in recent days that Balisacan, an agricultural economist, was being eyed to take over from Marcos as DA chief.

As head of the National Economic and Development Authority, Balisacan is part of the government’s team of economic managers.

The head of the team, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, described as a “sound proposal” the appointment of Balisacan to the top DA post.

Diokno had revealed last week that the economic team was “shocked” and was not consulted on the imposition of price caps on rice at P41 per kilo for regular milled and P45 for well-milled.

Diokno and another member of the team, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, however, issued statements declaring support for the price caps within a short period.

Shortly before the measure went into effect, Balisacan had told The STAR that the price ceilings would be lifted based on the food inflation trend. He also said the government was studying the reduction of rice tariffs to stabilize prices.

The Department of Trade and Industry said the price caps would be reviewed after two weeks, amid complaints from rice retailers about massive losses and consumers’ complaints about the disappearance of regular and well-milled rice varieties.

Food inflation has driven record-high inflation in the first year of the Marcos administration, with price surges and supply problems recorded in agricultural commodities including onions, white refined sugar, rice, eggs, chicken and large potatoes.

Amid calls for Marcos to relinquish the DA post, he has said there have been no takers. Among the persons mentioned as possible DA secretary is former senator Mar Roxas, a relative by affinity of the President.