Food producers lead “welcome protest” for fishing tycoon turned DA Secretary – updates from the peasant movement of the Philippines

Many challenges in agri and food production await fishing tycoon turned DA Secretary

Farmers, fisherfolks, peasant women, agricultural workers and food security advocates picketed outside the Department of Agriculture (DA) this morning as a welcome protest to the fishing tycoon-turned agri chief Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. On his first day at the DA, we want to tell Secretary Tiu-Laurel Jr that we will be watching his every move and action. Ito pa lang ang unang protesta habang siya ang DA secretary. Makakaasa pa siya ng mas marami kung hindi nya tutugunan ang mga isyu at hinaing ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

“We are not raising our hopes and we will remain cautious of the new Secretary. Babantayan namin ang bawat galaw ni Secretary Tiu Laurel Jr sa DA. Titingnan namin kung anong magagawa niya para pababain ang presyo ng pagkain, laluna ng bigas. Anong gagawin niya para matigil at masawata na ang large-scale agricultural smuggling at paano bibigyang proteksyon ang agrikultura mula sa higit na liberalisasyon. Higit sa lahat, kung bibigyan ba ng sapat na ayuda at suporta ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda.”

“Nothing in his background and credentials states public service and public interest. Placing him as the agriculture secretary speaks volumes regarding conflict of interest. In fact, he represents big business and the elite. How can we expect him to know the situation of small farmers and fisherfolk who are among the poorest of the poor?

KMP earlier criticized the appointment, saying there were too many red flags in Laurel Jr’s designation as agri chief and that the appointment was obviously a political favor and payback (bayad-utang).
First, he is a tycoon from a global food conglomerate; second, he is a known campaign donor who contributed P50 million to Bongbong’s campaign; and three, he is linked to too many self-serving economic interests. Farmers said they are not convinced Tiu Laurel Jr has divested all his business and corporate interests. Hindi maihihiwalay ang negosyo sa katauhan ni Secretary Laurel.

Among the declared priorities of Tiu Laurel Jr as the new DA secretary is the modernization of agriculture and ensuring a bountiful harvest. “To do this and to genuinely develop the agriculture sector, Tiu Laurel Jr must first do away with the existing importation and liberalization policies. His stance on farmers’ most urgent demand to repeal the Rice Liberalization Law and the granting of production subsidies to farmers and fisherfolks will reveal his real motives in accepting the DA post,” according to KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos.

KMP also expressed alarm that Tiu Laurel Jr in DA will only lead to the further liberalization of domestic agriculture and food production, especially in the fisheries sector.

“The DA secretary position is crucial at this period of persistent food inflation and impoverishment of farmers and fishers. Farmers will continue to press the DA to reverse its liberalization policies that led to the worsening domestic crisis in agriculture and food insecurity. ###