ON the occasion of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first year in office, I was asked by media friends whether it was judicious on his part to concurrently remain as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

While a number of my professional colleagues feel the necessity of appointing a full-time Agriculture secretary given the myriad problems the sector faces, I hold the opposite view. I support the President's decision to remain as Agriculture secretary until, as he puts it, the necessary reforms are instituted in the sector.