• Politics
  • Economy
  • Stock
  • World News
  • Editor’s Pick
Investments Aims
EconomyEditor's Pick

DA’s Laurel files for two-week medical leave

by July 8, 2025
by July 8, 2025

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. is taking a two-week medical leave starting July 9, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

Mr. Laurel is expected to undergo an unspecified procedure in Hong Kong, which he said had been deferred since he joined the government in November 2023.

“I will continue to monitor developments on the ground. Tuloy-tuloy lang ang trabaho (the work continues),” he said in a statement.

He added that he made the announcement “to prevent any speculation about his impending prolonged absence from activities of the DA.”

In Special Order No. 874, DA said that Undersecretary for Operations and Agri-Fisheries Mechanization and for Rural Credit Roger V. Navarro was designated officer-in-charge during the period.

“As such, he shall perform the functions, duties, and responsibilities inherent to the designation and such others as directed by the secretary in concurrent capacity with his regular functions, duties, and responsibilities,” according to the order.

However, the DA said on Tuesday that Mr. Laurel is expected to resume his duties by July 24, days before President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s State of the Nation Address.

In a separate statement, the DA said that it partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to roll out P20 rice for beneficiaries of the DSWD’s “Walang Gutom” program.

Walang Gutom is a food stamp program employing an electronic benefit transfer card.

“Through this partnership, our beneficiaries can now buy rice at an unprecedented P20 per kilo from DA-accredited retailers and Kadiwa outlets,” Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian said.

“This significantly increases the value of their food credits, helping families access healthier meals,” he added.

Initial beneficiaries of the program include solo parents, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

Walang Gutom beneficiaries currently number over 300,000 families, and will expand to 750,000 households by 2028.

Mr. Laurel said that the P20 rice program also benefits rice farmers, as “every bag of rice sold frees up storage for two sacks of palay (unmilled rice) that the National Food Authority (NFA) must buy from farmers at fair prices.”

At a forum on Tuesday, NFA Administrator Larry R. Lacson said the grains agency held reserves equivalent to 12 days’ demand as of two weeks ago.

“We try to do our best to absorb (rice) from our farmers. But we have limitations. So hopefully these limitations will be corrected, probably within the year,” he said. —  Justine Irish D. Tabile

0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Subic containers flagged as possible record seizure of agricultural goods
next post
Five onshore wind projects get green-lane status

You may also like

Palace confident in US trade deal after neighbors...

July 8, 2025

Five onshore wind projects get green-lane status

July 8, 2025

Subic containers flagged as possible record seizure of...

July 8, 2025

Bid notice posted for Virac airport upgrade

July 8, 2025

DoE welcomes microgrid unsolicited proposals

July 8, 2025

Budget release rate hits 92.1% at end of...

July 8, 2025

Polish firms inquire about possible Bicol investments

July 8, 2025

Growth in bulk prices of building materials in...

July 8, 2025

Clark airport, John Hay to pursue joint programs

July 8, 2025

PHL debt benchmark now at 70% of GDP,...

July 7, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get Premium Articles For Free


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Recent Posts

  • BRICS without the Big Boys becomes a Buzzkill

    July 9, 2025
  • ANOTHER Catastrophic Flooding in New Mexico — River Surges Over 20 Feet, Homes Swept Away

    July 9, 2025
  • Majority in the U.S. Still Supports Deporting Illegal Immigrants

    July 9, 2025
  • Senate Republicans Smash Fundraising Record by Eye-Popping Margin

    July 9, 2025
  • Socialist Professor in Texas Wants University of Houston Renamed as ‘George Floyd University’ (VIDEO)

    July 9, 2025
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us
  • About us

Copyright © 2024 Investments Aims. All Rights Reserved.

Investments Aims
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Stock
  • World News
  • Editor’s Pick