Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has called on officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fast-track the implementation of critical projects and ensure the actual disbursement of funds, rather than merely obligating them.
In a directive issued at the end of April during the DA Management Committee (ManCom) meeting, Tiu Laurel emphasized the urgency of delivering results, particularly in key areas such as the P20-per-kilo rice program, the construction of cold storage facilities, streamlining guidelines for the Daily Price Index essential to the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage law, and fine-tuning proposals to align with the new procurement law.
The DA chief said the agency must prioritize its most important projects to ensure timely delivery and meet the expectations set by Congress. “We must ensure that we meet our targets, especially those Congress-approved targets,” he said. “But more than that, we must guarantee that the funds for these projects, at the very least, are disbursed, not just obligated.”
The directive comes at a time when the department is under pressure to deliver tangible outcomes, particularly in addressing issues related to rice affordability.
One of the most prominent promises made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the P20 rice initiative, a program designed to make rice more accessible to Filipinos amid rising prices. The DA chief emphasized that the success of the affordable rice program is a top priority for the department. “We need to increase production. The blueprints we created last year were strong—but plans without execution are nothing. Now, we act—with urgency, with discipline, and with results that can be seen and felt,” he said.
In addition to the rice initiative, Tiu Laurel highlighted the need to expedite the development of cold storage facilities and ensure that all proposed projects comply with the latest procurement regulations. He also underscored the importance of implementing the Daily Price Index, which is integral to stabilizing agricultural prices as part of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage law.
Beyond his call for urgency, Tiu Laurel focused on strengthening the department’s internal performance evaluation system. “I will closely monitor the performance of our operating units through the performance appreciation system,” he said, ensuring the department’s work aligns with its broader goal of improving the agriculture sector.
The development of the Performance Appreciation System was initiated by DA Management, recognizing the need for a unified Performance Rating System across the entire department. Initially, the Planning and Monitoring Service, Financial and Management Service, and Field Operations Service worked together to develop the evaluation criteria. Additional offices with oversight functions were later engaged in finalizing the criteria.
The DA also took the opportunity to recognize its top-performing regions and attached agencies during the ManCom meeting. The first-ever DA awards honored Regional Field Office II in the RFO category, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards in the DA Bureau category, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries in the DA attached agencies category, and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation in the DA attached corporation category.
Also honored were Regions III and I for the regional field office category; Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering and Bureau of Agricultural Research for attached bureaus; National Fisheries Research and Development Institute and Agricultural Credit Policy Council for attached agencies; and National Dairy Authority, Philippine Rice Research Institute, and National Tobacco Administration
“Let us remain focused on delivering reliable services, strengthening our programs, and supporting the growth of our agriculture sector,” Secretary Tiu Laurel concluded. “Together, through shared effort and continuous improvement, we can build a department that delivers meaningful outcomes for our farmers, fisherfolk, and the communities we serve.”
