BIZ BUZZ: Tiu Laurel staying on … for now

Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is still the secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA)—at least for now.

“I don’t know,” Tiu Laurel said on Monday when asked if he had been retained amid the Marcos administration’s massive overhaul of the executive branch.

President Marcos has not yet acted on the courtesy resignation submitted by Tiu Laurel and other Cabinet members, as performance evaluations are ongoing.

“Well, it’s up to the president. I fully support his move for all the Cabinet members to submit a courtesy resignation for a reset,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an open dialogue with palay farmers in Malolos, Bulacan.

While waiting for the President’s final decision, Tiu Laurel assured the public that DA officials and staff are working double time to deliver various interventions for the farm sector.

“In case I’m still the one chosen to be the agriculture secretary, well, it’s an additional headache and exhaustion. But in any case, it doesn’t matter to me. What is important is that I do my work while he makes his final decision,” he added.

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Tiu Laurel said he can either go back to their family business, the Frabelle Group of Companies, or venture into cultivating palay, corn and cassava, as well as raising hogs.

But one thing is certain: Tiu Laurel is not yet ready to retire.