Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel met with the chairpersons of the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) and the National Sectoral Committee (NSC) on January 5, 2024 to discuss the private sector representatives’ issues, concerns, and recommendations for the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Joined by key officials of the DA, Secretary Tiu Laurel actively listened to the reports and requests of the RAFC and NSC chairpersons, shared his preference for a bottom-up management approach, and encouraged teamwork between the government and the private sector.

“If we can work together well, then I think we can move forward faster,” he said.

The agri chief discussed some of the ways forward for the DA including investing heavily in postharvest facilities, creating more regional food terminals, strengthening biosecurity standards to avoid spread of animal diseases, and being data-driven, among others.

Secretary Tiu Laurel also said that he will instruct the DA Regional Executive Directors to send all their plans and programs to the RAFCs for them to be able to monitor all government projects in the regional level in the private sector for full transparency. ### (Photos by Alarico Nuestro, DA-AFID/Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)