Senator Francis Escudero said hoarders and smugglers of agricultural products will be identified with the creation of a watchdog entity by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture (DA) officials are set to i meet with their Japanese counterparts on the second quarter of 2024 to explore bilateral collaboration with the view of helping Filipino farmers and exporters bolster their share of exports to Japan.
Escudero said the projected Blacklisting Committee sits well with the anti-corruption campaign and other reforms Laurel was pushing in the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The senator expressed confidence on Laurel’s capability to weed up undesirables in the agency and implement the reforms for the sake of the agriculture sector, especially the farmers.
“I have known Secretary Laurel for a long time and he is not a thief. He cannot easily be threatened or intimidated,” Escudero said in an interview.
Laurel issued Special Order 11 that creates the DA’s central blacklisting committee to strengthen the government’s drive against unscrupulous manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, consultants as well as hoarders and smugglers of agricultural products.
Laurel has designated DA legal service director Willie Ann Angsiy and procurement division chief Melinda Deyto as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the blacklisting committee. He also appointed DA internal audit service director Christopher Bañas to be a member of the committee, which was given 30 days from the receipt of complaints against alleged offenders to issue a resolution containing its findings and recommendations.
In the same interview, Escudero expressed his full support for Laurel’s decision to initiate organizational changes in DA just two months after President Marcos appointed him.