PRESIDENT Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (BBM) began his presidency by talking about the need for urgent economic recovery following over two years of Covid-19 and the natural and man-made calamities that have wasted private lives, resources, and the nation's fortunes.

Amid the people's loss of jobs, health, homes, economic security and personal dignity, the President decided to focus on agriculture, which defines the livelihood of most of our rural and hungry countrymen. He made himself the acting secretary of agriculture, absent a more qualified appointee to what he considered the most critical Cabinet job of the hour.