Archives

Vol. 2 No. 3
February 1-15, 2001
New DA sec identifies 11 priorities for next 100 days
by Rita T. dela Cruz

The new government under the Arroyo Administration has appointed Leonardo Q. Montemayor as the new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) barely one month after former Secretary Domingo Panganiban assumed his post. The sectoral representative of the Federation of Free Farmers was sworn into office last 6 February after Press Secretary Noel Cabrera confirmed his appointment during a press briefing.

When asked about his plans as the new head of DA, Montemayor mentioned 11 priorities to be undertaken for the next 100 days:

• Accelerate the implementation of AFMA particularly research and development, extension, and the Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZ)
  
• Address the smuggling activities that adversely affect the agriculture sector
  
• Pursue the full implementation of the Fisheries Code
  
• Rural infrastructure
  
• Design innovative credit and financing schemes
  Effective management and maintenance of water resources in agriculture
  
• MakaMASA program
  
• Enhance the trade and fiscal incentives for agriculture
  
• Develop programs for Mindanao
  
• Recover the coconut levy funds
  
• People empowerment

In his speech, Secretary Montemayor shared his confidence in helping the current administration succeed in addressing poverty and rural development. According to him, this is viable through long and extensive years to direct exposure and close collaboration with farmers, as well as cooperation with different agricultural market and agribusiness players.

Secretary Montemayor graduated summa cum laude (A.B. Philosophy) from Ateneo de Manila. He was also a graduate of the Strategic Business Education Program from the Center for Research and Communication. As an active partylist member of the house, he has authored major laws like the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act or R.A. No. 8435; the act strengthening the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform program or R.A. No. 8532; the Fisheries Code or R.A. No. 8550; and the Safeguard Measures Act or R.A. No. 8800.

Concurrent to his position, he is the chairperson of the House Committee on Agrarian Reform, director of the Rural Workers Department of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines; board member of the Agricultural Economics and Development Association; head of the Education Department of the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives; and chairperson of the Task Force on Reorganization of the Ministry of Agriculture.

February 1-15 2001 Articles:

:: DA creates PhilCorn and PhilFruits
:: New DA sec identifies 11 priorities for next 100 days
:: M.O. no. 1 establishes RDMIC
:: How the R&D system responds to GMA's core values
:: Chinese scientists visit BAR
:: BAR holds first seminar series for 2001
:: 1st R&D ManCom meeting held

::: More February 2001 articles :::