Piñol's 6-year term as MinDA chairman officially starts

(Below is the statement of former Agriculture Sec. Emmanuel Pinol posted on his FB accounts - ed)

Multi-Tasks!

Today, I took my oath to serve as the new Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), a Cabinet portfolio which carries the rank of Secretary.

This position has a fixed term of 6 years thus ensuring sustainability of all initiatives beyond the term of the incumbent President.

This new responsibility is a multi-task job to include Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, International Relations and even Security Concerns.

The MinDA Chair is also the Philippine Government's representative to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asia Growth Area Regional Grouping (BIMP-EAGA).

My added task is to serve as President Rody Duterte's "Point Person" to the newly formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Musl8m Mindanao (BARMM).

This will also bring me closer to my family and, of course, my farm.

Just as when I was Secretary of Agriculture I will work just as hard.

I thank the stakeholders of Agriculture for their support and at the same time beg for their understanding for my decision to leave the Department of Agriculture.

This was in the best interest of the Department and the stakeholders.

At odds with the Economic Managers and a very powerful political personality, I felt then that I would get nowhere in my dream to serve the farmers and fisherfolks.