Agriculture group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has recommended Senator Imee Marcos as the next Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
"Sa tingin natin si Senator Imee ang pwedeng umupo as secretary of agriculture. At least, 'yung grupo ng samahan ng SINAG ay nakita talaga 'yung hardwork at pagtulong niya sa agrikultural sector." SINAG President Rosendo told reporters in an ambush interview after the group's annual meeting with Imee last February 3.
Rosendo said the Senator is qualified for the role as she has the "heart" for farmers and the local agriculture industry.
"Second is balancing ng importation. Tuloy-tuloy naman ang pag-import pero siyempre calibrated. Kailangan ganon talaga. Nakikita naman natin na kaya niyang hawakan," Rosendo added.
Alongside, the SINAG Chief said they think Imee can work together with her brother, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.
Marcos Jr. is the current head of the agriculture department.
But under Article 7 Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution, the spouse and relatives of the President are not allowed to be appointed as "members of the Constitutional Commissions, or the Office of the Ombudsman, or as Secretaries, Undersecretaries, chairmen or heads of bureaus or offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries."
Meanwhile, Imee remain mum on the recommendation but she vowed to support programs that will help local farmers.
The Senator is also pushing for the probe of agriculture smuggling.
"2016 pa 'yung batas ng agricultural large scale smuggling. Sa awa ng Diyos, wala pang nakakasuhan na tuloy-tuloy na nakukulong. Sana matapos na," Imee said in the same interview with the reporters.
Earlier, the President said he wants an agriculture expert and not a retired military or police official to lead the DA.
Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar said the next DA chief should have a heart for local small farmers.
