“2024 Was A ‘Perfect Storm’ For Agriculture” – DA Chief Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. That’s “A Perfect Excuse For Failure In PH Aggie Leadership!” – Frank A Hilario, UP Los Baños Alumnus, 1965

PH Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr’s Christmas doleful message to all: “This year was full of challenges, from the El Niño, La Niña and the devastation of various pests. This year was a perfect storm for the agriculture sector” (26 Dec 2024, “2024 A ‘Perfect Storm’ For Agriculture – DA Chief” (Bella Cariaso, The Philippine Star philstar.com). That’s equivalent to saying, “I failed you as your Secretary of Agriculture!”

An agriculturist and observer since 1965, when I graduated with Ag Edu from UP Los Baños, turned media reader since at least the appearance of the Philippines Daily Inquirer in 1997, and an admirer of then-PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar 2019 until he was unceremoniously replaced by BBM in 2022 – without BBM declaring a new PH DA Vision and Mission especially in the light of Climate Change! Then PH got was a No-Vision Tiu Laurel Jr.

I say “Perfect Storm” is perfect only as an excuse for the failure of PH Tiu Laurel Jr’s aggie leadership since late 2023, or in the last 2 years – time enough time to plug the aggie loopholes if he knew what to do!

And the biggest loophole is? Sec Tiu Laurel Jr’s Lack of Vision for PH Agriculture! You cannot lead without knowing exactly where to go for the benefit of the people!

“I know our work will not end. We will face many challenges but I believe that we will overcome all of these, especially with our aim to harvest enough supply and bring food to the table of every Filipino family,” Mr Tiu Laurel said.

Unambitious aim – any Secretary of Agriculture could promise to “bring food to the table of every Filipino”!

Food as a problem for the family of a farmer is nothing compared to poverty despite the industry of Filipino farmers in the growing of crops, especially rice.

The Vision should at least be: “To rescue from poverty and bring prosperity to the table of every Filipino farming family”!

Yes! We Filipinos need a Secretary of Agriculture  who has Vision for all of PH Agriculture.

“I know our work will not end. We will face many challenges but I believe that we will overcome all of these, especially with our aim to harvest enough supply and bring food to the table of every Filipino family,” Mr Tiu Laurel said.

Ah, but you can “bring food to the table of every Filipino family” by importing! So, Mr Tiu Laurel’s ambition is not ambitious at all. What the Filipino farmers need most is to turn farming from a losing position to a winning proposition!

And you know what? The farmers have to regenerate their agriculture from a losing to a winning proposition. And we can regenerate our farming by appointing a Secretary of Agriculture who has the National Vision that includes “Prosperity for All Farmers.” And I know one man who can lead us to its fulfilment: William Dar.@517