By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Senator Imee Marcos believes her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is looking for a suitable replacement as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Marcos Jr. is the concurrent DA secretary, a position he held since being elected into office in 2022.

The senator said she supported his appointment as DA secretary to address various agricultural issues, including the entry of African swine fever into the country, which is known to have originated from imported pork.

She said his position as DA secretary is challenging and solving agricultural issues is not straightforward.

She expressed concerns about the consecutive importations of some commodities, not only rice but also sugar, as she believes this will encourage agricultural smuggling.

The senator also emphasized the need to prioritize local farmers and ensure the consumption of all the products they produce.

She was in Bacolod City on Friday, September 8, to attend a program by the Department of Education Schools Division in Negros Occidental./DGB, WDJ