President Aquino started his term with a strong message to the Filipino farmers. I don’t care about you and the agriculture sector. Fittingly, he named a former contractor, Proceso “Procy” Alcala as agriculture secretary. Ok, a minor correction. Mr. Alcala, just like many members of the House, had a background in public works construction before the smooth transition to this exalted title: lawmaker of the realm.
Mr. Aquino’s appointment of Mr. Alcala said in so many words that Philippine agriculture was to sink or swim on its own, and the nation’s farmers would be without the steadying, nurturing hand of a leader. What did Mr. Alcala really know about agriculture, its long history of neglect, and the brutal wages dealt on the sector by the liberalization of agricultural trade? Of the many cabinet appointments made after his May 2010 victory, Mr. Aquino’s appointment of Mr. Alcala was one of the least inspired.
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