Fishing tycoon as new Department of Agriculture chief? Palace mum

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang would not confirm reports that President Marcos is eyeing fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“Not confirmed,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a brief statement yesterday when asked to comment on a report of Bilyonaryo.com.

Citing sources, Bilyonaryo.com said Laurel, who owns the Frabelle Group of Companies, has the qualities Marcos has been looking for in a DA chief, a position the President concurrently holds since assuming office in June last year.

Laurel was one of Marcos’ top donors in the 2022 elections, the business news website said.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said he believes Marcos was “on the way” to making a decision with regard to choosing the new agriculture secretary.

In an interview in June, Marcos said he would stay as agriculture secretary until efficient systems are in place to ensure food security and better living conditions for the country’s farmers.

“So what I aspire is by the time I leave the DA, we will have systems in place so that we can guarantee the food supply of the Philippines, we can guarantee that the prices are affordable and that our farmers make a good living,” Marcos said.

Several senators and other sectors have urged Marcos to appoint a full-time DA secretary.