Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has formed a group of experts comprised of former chiefs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other pundits to help address current and long-term issues of the farm sector.
Dar issued Special Order (SO) 519, Series of 2020 that authorized the creation of a group called the Secretary of Agriculture’s Group of Experts, or SAGE.
The group of experts would be chaired by National Scientist Dr. Emil Q. Javier with its members composed of three former agriculture secretaries Senen C. Bacani, Leonardo Q. Montemayor and Domingo F. Panganiban.
Bacani was appointed by the late former President Corazon C. Aquino as the country’s agriculture chief and stayed in the post from 1990 until the middle of 1992. Bacani succeeded incumbent Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III as the DA secretary.
Panganiban served the country as DA chief under two different administrations: first under President Joseph E. Estrada where he held the post in 2001 and his second stint was under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the middle of 2005 to 2006.
Montemayor was also appointed by President Arroyo as DA chief from 2001 to 2002, succeeding Panganiban.
Based on the SO, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion III, economist Cielito F. Habito and University of the East President Ester A. Garcia are also part of the SAGE group.
The DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Research shall serve as the new group’s secretariat, according to the document, dated June 29, 2020.
“The members of the SAGE are expected to provide strategic, broad, and long-term stroke recommendations to drive the agriculture sector into the next higher level of performance,” Dar said in the order.
Based on the order, the SAGE shall provide policy recommendations to address major and current issues affecting the agriculture sector.
The group is also tasked to provide assistance in identifying and formulating special actions and appropriate measures needed by various technical offices of the DA.
“[They shall] provide expert assistance in assessing essential and appropriate interventions needed in delivering development programs in the countryside,” the SO read.
“[They shall] provide guidance in activities that will review and improve the cooperation and coordination between the Philippines and other countries or intergovernmental organizations in different development programs,” the document added.
Under the SO, the DA shall shoulder all expenses, including payment of honoraria, traveling allowances, per diems and other incidental expenses that would be incurred by the SAGE group in the performance of their functions, duties and responsibilities.