FLORENCIO "BEM" NOEL  

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Maupay nga kulop ha aton ngatanan, Mr. Chairman, my esteemed colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

Your Committee on Agriculture conducted a hearing today, December 17, to deliberate on the ad interim appointment of the Honorable Willam Dollente Dar as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.  After deliberating on the qualifications and fitness of Secretary Dar in this Committee, it is my honor and privilege to sponsor and report in the Plenary the Committee’s recommendation.

Allow me to give this Body a brief background of the person, William Dollente Dar.  He was born in Ilocos Sur on April 10, 1953.  Manong Willie, as friends would call him, is married to the former Ms. Beatriz Germinal Meria, a retired official of the DENR, with whom he has four (4) children.  He is the youngest of six (6) siblings of Marcelo Quebral Dar and Ana Dollente Dar, both farmers.

At an early age, he had already manifested his exceptional academic prowess and uncanny interest in the field of agriculture when he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education at the Mountain State Agricultural College in La Trinidad, Benguet, now Benguet State University. 

After three (3) years, he earned his Master’s Degree in Science – in Agronomy in that same school.  He pursued his Doctoral Degree in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños from 1977 to 1980.

Because of the virtuous reputation, exceptional professionalism and unquestionable integrity, Secretary Dar was entrusted to serve as Acting Secretary of the Department of Agriculture from 1998 to 1999.  While he only served for eleven (11) months, his stint as agri-chief, although short, was memorable, since it was during this time that despite the harsh El Niño, the agriculture sector registered an unprecedented growth of nine point eight (9.8%) percent which up to now is unmatched.  This was because he strongly implemented the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act and carried out policies and programs to start the modernization and industrialization of the agriculture and fishery sectors.  With his extensive knowledge and experience in ensuring sustainable food production, he became the Presidential Advisor on Food Security in 1999.

For fifteen (15) years, he served as the Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics or ICRISAT in India.  An action man awarded for his multitude contribution in the field of science and agricultural research.  Secretary Dar was twice bestowed with Philippines recognition including The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) award in 2016.

Now, on this second tour of duty, the appointment of Secretary Dar to the DA came in at a time when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is in need of an action man who is determined to elevate the Philippine agriculture with his new thinking approach that will establish a food-secured Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolks.  

Mr. Chairman, my esteemed colleagues, unanimously convinced of the unquestionable and unassailable qualifications, competence, fitness and integrity of Secretary Dar, your Committee on Agriculture would like to recommend the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of the Honorable William Dollente Dar as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Damo nga salamat.