Manny Piñol: “There are actually agencies of government under the Department of Agriculture that should be downsized. Retrofitting ika nga.”
MANNY PIÑOL — On Tuesday, the former Agriculture Secretary said that some offices under the Department of Agriculture (DA) needed to be “downsized”.
Piñol’s remark came after incoming President Bongbong Marcos bared his intention to “restructure” the agency when he sits as its temporary head at the start of his administration.
In an interview on CNN Philippines, he said that there are offices under the said agency that should be “downsized”.
“There are actually agencies of government under the Department of Agriculture that should be downsized. Retrofitting ika nga,” he said. “Kailangan maisama na doon sa ibang ahensya kasi nagdu-duplicate na ‘yung functions.“
He also mentioned the Bureau of Soils and Water Management and the National Irrigation Authority which, according to the former DA chief, have double functions when it comes to irrigation.
READ ALSO: Ex-DA Sec. Manny Piñol Calls BBM’s Decision to Lead Department of Agriculture a “Brilliant Move”
Piñol added that those two offices are among those that could be turned into one agency in order to ensure efficient programs.
Aside from restructuring the Department of Agriculture, the Marcos administration also intended to increase food production in the Philippines to address the soaring prices of food products.
President-elect Marcos Jr said that he wanted to give high priority towards the agriculture sector because “the events of the global economy are moving very quickly”.
Meanwhile, Piñol said in his social media post that President-elect Marcos Jr’s decision to lead the Department of Agriculture is a “brilliant move“.
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