BIZ BUZZ: Tiu Laurel marked safe

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is officially off the chopping block amid the ongoing executive branch shake-up—and the Department of Agriculture (DA) couldn’t be happier.

Tiu Laurel is among the 21 government officials retained by President Marcos two weeks after he ordered all Cabinet secretaries and agencies heads to tender their courtesy resignations.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said morale at the DA was “very high,” noting that they had expected Tiu Laurel to be retained because of his performance and strong working relationship with Mr. Marcos.

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“The [agriculture] secretary, beyond the P20 (rice program), is truly a working secretary. The P20 (subsidized rice program) is just a bonus for him—what really matters is his working relationship with the President, and when the President gives an order, he will definitely do it,” said de Mesa, also the DA’s spokesperson.