DA GETS INPUTS FROM ADVISORY PANEL

Prominent luminaries in the field of agriculture, science, economics, and agribusiness recently convened for their inaugural meeting, ushering in their role as the “Secretary of Agriculture’s Group of Experts” or SAGE.

Tasked to advise Secretary William Dar and the Department of Agriculture (DA) management, SAGE is chaired by national scientist, Dr. Emil Q. Javier, who previously served as science minister, president of the University of the Philippines (UP), and chancellor of UP Los Baños (UPLB).

The other SAGE members are former agriculture secretaries, Senen C. Bacani, Leonardo Q. Montemayor, and Domingo F. Panganiban; former socio-economic planning and NEDA secretary, Cielito F. Habito; current presidential adviser for entrepreneurship, Joey Concepcion; and University of the East president, Dr. Ester Albano Garcia.

“On behalf of the entire DA family, we express our gratitude to the SAGE members for accepting our invitation. We are both humbled and privileged to listen to your wise advice and guidance as I embark on my second year of service to our countrymen,” said Secretary Dar, as he opened the initial SAGE meeting, recently at the DA main office, Quezon City.

“For the agri-fishery sector to ‘survive, reboot, and grow,’ under the new normal, we need to implement the ‘whole of nation approach,’ and this includes the valuable insights of our predecessors, trusted agriculture experts and luminaries,” he added.

For his part, Dr. Javier said: “On behalf of my colleagues, we thank Secretary Dar for the honor and opportunity to be part of his group of experts. We will extend our full support and participation, and look forward to a fruitful and constructive engagement with  Dar and the DA.”

The group also commended  Dar and the entire Department for the 1.6-percent growth registered by the agriculture sector during the second quarter of the year, adding that they will recommend policies to help sustain the positive growth, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, they will provide advice on how to effectively implement major DA initiatives, notably the Plant, Plant, Plant program, guided by the food security and resiliency policy framework.

During the meeting, Dar was joined physically by Secretary Bacani and other DA officials, while other SAGE members, including Dr. Javier, attended via teleconference.