Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has reassigned DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian to form part of a strategic group at the department focusing on rice production.
Laurel has introduced changes in the leadership at the DA to flesh out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s marching orders to modernize the farm sector and ensure the country’s food security.
Sebastian is now a member of the Secretary’s Technical Advisory Group, barely a year after his appointment as undersecretary for the Rice Industry Development Program by the President.
He has represented the President in the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Program, the board of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the National Food Authority (NFA) Council, and as a trustee in the boards of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Sebastian will have to give up his multiple roles following his appointment as adviser to the agriculture secretary.
In his stead, Undersecretary Nichols Manalo will head the national rice program, a position that he will hold concurrent to his position as director IV and officer-in-charge-director of field operations service, and director of the national corn program.
Meanwhile, other leadership changes in the Department involved the designation of assistant secretary Arnel de Mesa as full-time spokesman of the DA, while OIC undersecretary for operations Roger Navarro will also assume a new role as OIC-undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, OIC-national project director of the Philippine Rural Development Project, and OIC-assistant secretary for Operations.
Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate has been assigned as undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations in a concurrent capacity while undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla will oversee operations and coordinate programs of the attached bureaus at the DA.
Chief administrative officer and OIC director for financial and management service Thelma Tolentino assumes position as undersecretary-designate for Finance and undersecretary Agnes Catherine Miranda will supervise, oversee operations, and coordinate programs of DA Attached Agencies and Corporations.
Laurel also created a team that will address concerns, requests and facilitate submissions of the DA to the Office of the President-Presidential Management Staff.
Further changes in the DA leadership are likely given the temporary nature of certain appointments and the additional work load placed on the shoulder of certain officials.
