Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol during the inauguration of Solar-powered Irrigation System (SPIS) project in Mlang, North Cotabato in early April. (Contributed photo)
MANILA -- Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has been designated as head of Soccsksargen development and security cluster under the task force created to address development concerns and security issues and ending communist insurgency in the country.
Piñol, who is from Mlang in North Cotabato, said Soccsksargen is one of the least developed regions in the country but “has one of the better potentials.”
Soccsksargen or Region 12 is composed of the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan and the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato where the communist-led New People’s Army is also active.
He said the agriculture department intends to address the root of communist rebellion in the region and convince local communist leaders that it is futile fighting the government.
As the alter ego of the President in the region, Piñol will preside over joint meetings of Regional Development Councils and Regional Peace and Order Councils “to harmonize peace, security and development efforts assigned in the region.”
His function as cluster head under the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) set-up also includes articulating the issues and concerns of the region during cabinet meetings.
CORDS is an offshoot of the recently created by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Piñol is also tasked to assist the Office of the President in addressing in the speedy, orderly and efficient resolution of problems in government operations in the region.
The new mandate, he said, will further boost efforts to improve programs and projects at the agriculture department.
Piñol also expects the agriculture sector to bounce back and register higher growth in the remainder of the term of President Rodrigo Duterte who is putting a premium on agricultural productivity.
“Our budget has been increased and augmented and we are now implementing programs that will boost and enhance productivity,” Piñol added.
Other Cabinet secretaries who were also designated as regional CORDS head are: Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez for Region 11, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar for the National Capital Region: National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., for Region 1; Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for Region 2; Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez for Region 3; Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año for Region 4-A, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for Region 4-B; Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for Region 6; Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Diño for Region 7; Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary Eduardo del Rosario for Region 8; Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista for Region 9; Communications Secretary Martin Andanar for Region 10; Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles for Caraga Region; Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and Budget Secretary Janet Abuel for Cordillera Administrative Region. (PNA)
