Usec Sebastian Asked to Increase PH Rice Production

After dropping the charges against Leocadio S. Sebastian relating to the sugar importation last year, Malacañang has reinstated him and appointed him as the Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development.

Sebastian will be in charge of heading the government’s program for the rice sector, targeting the improvement of the self-sufficiency level of the country.  The newly reinstated Undersecretary will also look over all industry-related programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and represent Preside Marcos Jr. in all government programs and agencies relating to rice.

The DA’s website has also included Sebastian as the sixth undersecretary of the agriculture department under President Marcos Jr. who currently heads the department.

“Our main challenge is how to make our rice farming profitable while aiming for a higher rice sufficiency level. For this I have proposed some strategies,” said Sebastian.

Under the memorandum from Executive Secretary Lucas P Bersamin, the functions and duties of Sebastian include “overseeing the implementation of government plans, policies, programs, and projects addressing rice industry development.”

With this, Sebastian is tasked with ensuring the implementation of the rice industry roadmap of the Philippines while creating programs and plans for the further development of the rice industry.

Sebastian is also tasked by Malacañang to report directly to the President via the Executive Secretary on issues concerning the local rice sector and any developments.

“All agencies, offices, divisions, services, and bureaus, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, attached to the DA, are hereby directed to provide the necessary support and assistance to the Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development for the effective implementation of programs, projects, and activities relative to the promotion and development of the rice industry,”  stated the memorandum.

Source: Business Mirror