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Two senior execs leave agri dept amid reshuffle of officials

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Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The Department of Agriculture" s="" main="" building="" in="" Quezon="" City.="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/tvpatrol/01/05/20170817-department-agriculture-da-md-3.jpg"/><figcaption>The Department of Agriculture&#x27;s main building in Quezon City. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Two senior executives have left the Department of Agriculture, in the middle of a leadership reshuffle initiated by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.</p><p>Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, who was second-in-command when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was secretary, bid goodbye to the agency on January 1.</p><p>He was given the Service Recognition Award last December 2023.</p><p>Panganiban earlier said his service to the agency was transitory, until Marcos Jr. could appoint a permanent secretary.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/03/23/fishing-tycoon-francisco-tiu-laurel-jr-named-agriculture-chief">Marcos gives up agri portfolio, appoints fishing tycoon as agriculture chief</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/04/23/laurels-da-appointment-draws-mixed-reactions">New Agri chief meets with DA officials; appointment draws mixed reactions</a></li></ul><p>Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, who handled the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program since February 2023, &quot;opted to retire&quot;, said DA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa. Sebastian&#x27;s retirement will take effect in February.</p><p>Prior to this, Laurel assigned Sebastian to be part of the Secretary Technical Advisory Group (STAG), &quot;to leverage his deep understanding of the farm sector, particularly rice production.&quot;</p><p>In 2022, Sebastian, who was then the most senior undersecretary, faced a controversy for signing a sugar importation order in Marcos Jr.&#x27;s name.</p><p>Sebastian stepped down from his post that time, until he was reappointed to head the Masagana Rice Industry program early 2023.</p><p>Current Agriculture Secretary Laurel reshuffled major officials within his department.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/13/23/da-chief-clarifies-educational-background-i-quit-school-sea-became-my-university">Agri chief clarifies educational background: &#x27;I quit school, sea became my university&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Director U-Nichols Manalo was assigned director of the national rice program, concurrent to his position as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Field Operations Service and director of the National Corn Program.</p><p>OIC-Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro will also act as OIC-Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, OIC-National Project Director of the Philippine Rural Development Project, and OIC-Assistant Secretary for Operations.</p><p>Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate was named Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations.</p><p>Meanwhile, Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla was assigned to oversee operations and coordinate programs of the DA Bureaus.</p><p>Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa was designated as full-time spokesman of the DA.</p><p>Chief Administrative Officer and OIC Director for Financial and Management Service Thelma Tolentino was appointed as Undersecretary-designate for Finance.</p><p>Undersecretary Agnes Catherine Miranda was tasked to oversee operations and coordinate programs of DA Attached Agencies and Corporations.</p><p>&quot;Ang ating Secretary ngayon, ginagawa ito para mas maging episyente, mas maging epektibo ang operations and management ng ating Department as a whole,&quot; said De Mesa.</p><p>The spokesperson said there would be more movement within the agency in the coming months. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/23/urban-farming-pushed-to-address-food-production-issues">Urban farming pushed to address food production issues</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/16/23/da-assures-stable-supply-of-rice-until-next-harvest-season">DA assures stable supply of rice until next harvest season</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KVxRBc88yi0?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OzX5xhtAwb0?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Two senior executives have left the Department of Agriculture, in the middle of a leadership reshuffle. 

Two senior execs leave agri dept amid reshuffle of officials

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Two senior execs leave agri dept amid reshuffle of officials

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 05, 2024 10:48 AM PHT

Read More:

DA

officials

agriculture

policy

Tiu Laurel

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