MANILA — The Commission on Appointment (CA) gave the green light to the appointments of 49 officials within the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a recent session.

Reflecting on the diverse backgrounds of the appointees, CA Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairperson Jinggoy Estrada highlighted their varied experiences in public service, spanning the Senate, executive offices, judiciary, military, coast guard, academia, and the corporate sector.

Estrada emphasized that the collective competencies and advocacies of these appointees significantly enhance the DFA’s capabilities in tackling the intricate challenges and issues it faces.

(Liza Soriano/ai/mnm)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — The Commission on Appointment approved the appointment of Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary after he appeared in his confirmation hearing.

It can be recalled that after more than a year of the President’s administration of the agency, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed a Secretary who will focus on issues and other matters in the DA.

Laurel is a fishing tycoon, as well as the President’s childhood pal.

Before the confirmation at the committee level earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned the possible influence or “conflict of interest” of his businesses in the agency where the Secretary assured that the DA’s policies will not favor their family’s companies and businesses.

The Agriculture Secretary has also resigned and divested all the more than 60 companies owned through ‘deed of sale.’

Laurel further said that in addition to the reforms in the agency, there will be reorganization of the DA in January, changes in the system to be investor.

“I am now 56 and I’ve been called to serve the country—to lead it out of high food prices; low food production; broken food supply chains; lack of irrigation, cold storage, credit, and other key inputs; and ageing farmers and fisherfolk. Add climate change and geopolitical disruptions to this mix, and the task to feed all 118 million Filipinos becomes even more daunting,” Laurel added.

(ai/mnm)