The Department of Agriculture (DA) said two senior DA executives have left the department amid a leadership reshuffle initiated by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, who was second-in-command when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was secretary, bid goodbye to the agency on Jan. 1. Panganiban earlier said his service to the agency was “transitory” until Marcos Jr. could appoint a permanent secretary.
Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, who handled the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program since February 2023, “opted to retire,” DA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.
Sebastian’s retirement will take effect in February.
Laurel earlier assigned Sebastian to be part of the Secretary Technical Advisory Group (STAG), “to leverage his deep understanding of the farm sector, particularly rice production.”
In 2022, Sebastian, who was then the most senior undersecretary, faced controversy for signing a sugar importation order in President Marcos’ name.
Sebastian stepped down from his post at that time until he was reappointed to head the Masagana Rice Industry program in early 2023.
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.
Current Agriculture Secretary Laurel reshuffled major officials within his department.
Director U-Nichols Manalo was assigned director of the national rice program, concurrent to his position as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Field Operations Service and director of the National Corn Program.
OIC-Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro will also act 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 was named Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla was assigned to oversee operations and coordinate programs of the DA Bureaus.
Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa was designated as full-time spokesman of the DA.
Chief Administrative Officer and OIC Director for Financial and Management Service Thelma Tolentino was appointed as Undersecretary-designate for Finance.
Undersecretary Agnes Catherine Miranda was tasked to oversee operations and coordinate programs of DA Attached Agencies and Corporations.
“Ang ating Secretary ngayon, ginagawa ito para mas maging episyente, mas maging epektibo ang operations and management ng ating Department as a whole,” said De Mesa.
The spokesperson said there would be more movement within the agency in the coming months.