Who is new Agriculture chief Laurel?

The new Agriculture secretary was among the campaign donors of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in the 2022 national elections.

According to the records of the Commission on Elections, fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. donated P30 million to the presidential bid of Marcos.

In putting Laurel at the helm of the Department of Agriculture,  the President expressed confidence he and Laurel had a "good understanding of what it is that needs to be done" in the agriculture sector.

He said he has known Laurel for a long time.

"I've known him since we were boys. So, malakas ang loob ko na ma-i-appoint siya kasi kilala ko pagkatao niya. Alam kong napakasipag nito, unang-una. Pangalawa, nauunawaan niya nang mabuti ang sistema ng agrikultura dito sa Pilipinas," Marcos told reporters.

(I'm confident with his appointment because I know him. I know that he is hardworking. Also, he knows the system of agriculture in the Philippines.)

Marcos held the DA secretary post since he assumed the presidency last year.

 Laurel sits as president of Frabelle Fishing Corporation which was established in 1966 as a small trawl fishing company before eventually shifting to purse seining small pelagic fish and then to tuna.

Aside from his post in Frabelle, Laurel also holds other positions in other companies such as chairman of Westpac Meat Processing Corporation, president of Markham Resources Corporation, and chairman of Bukidnon Hydro Energy.

He is also chairman of World Tuna Purse Seine Organization.

Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters that Laurel already “divested his interests from his companies.”

Laurel trained in refrigeration, net manufacturing, engine overhauling, electronics, hydraulics, food manufacturing, shipbuilding, and ship repair.—AOL, GMA Integrated News