Fields of Failure: Why Marcos Must Replace Tiu Laurel to Save Philippine Agriculture

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — May 25, 2025

IN A sun-scorched barangay in Nueva Ecija, a rice farmer named Mang Pipoy stands amid his wilting crops, his livelihood crushed not just by El Niño’s wrath but by a flood of imported onions that arrived as his harvest hit the market. His plight mirrors the struggles of millions of Filipino farmers, caught in the crosshairs of policy missteps under Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Appointed with fanfare for his business savvy, Laurel’s 18-month tenure has been a tale of ambition undone by bureaucratic blunders and disconnects from the fields he was meant to champion. As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. navigates a post-midterm Cabinet shakeup, the case for letting Laurel go is clear: his record, marred by controversies and unfulfilled promises, risks deepening public distrust in an administration already reeling from electoral setbacks.

A Technocrat’s Stumble: Evaluating Laurel’s Rocky Tenure

In November 2023, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. walked through the doors of the Department of Agriculture not just as a new secretary, but as the embodiment of long-awaited change for Filipino farmers. His resume as president of the Frabelle Group, a global tuna fishing powerhouse, promised a fresh, private-sector approach to a sector critical to 10% of the Philippines’ GDP and the livelihoods of 24% of its workforce[1]. Early moves—like reorganizing the DA with new appointments and launching rice processing centers—suggested a bold vision for modernization[2]. Laurel claimed success in stabilizing commodity prices, notably slashing onion prices from a staggering P700 per kilo in 2022 to P100–P160 by late 2024, a win he highlighted in his first-year reflection[3].

Yet, public accountability demands results beyond fleeting price dips. Laurel’s own words betray the struggle: in November 2024, he rated his performance “not that great,” admitting regret over taking the role due to the steep learning curve of government work[3]. External pressures—El Niño, La Niña, and global supply chain disruptions—were real, but they don’t fully explain the DA’s lackluster outcomes. Agricultural output faltered, with palay production projected to drop to 19.3 million metric tons in 2024, worsened by inadequate policy responses. The sector’s woes dragged down the economy, with Q1 2025 GDP growth at 5.4%, missing the 6–8% target and underscoring agriculture’s persistent underperformance.

Stakeholder feedback reveals a divided verdict. The Makati Business Club gave the economic team, including Laurel, an 8/10 rating, reflecting elite confidence. A November 2024 survey by RP-Mission and Development Foundation pegged his approval at 76.1%, solid but lagging behind top performers like Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. at 95.8%[4]. Yet, grassroots voices tell a harsher story. Farmers like Mang Pipoy, through groups like Katarungan, voiced frustration over unmet needs for infrastructure and market support[5]. Social media reactions to his resignation, while not singling him out, decried bureaucratic inefficiencies in agencies like the DA, reflecting broader public discontent.

Blunders in the Barrio: Controversies That Crushed Farmers

Laurel’s tenure was punctuated by decisions that sparked outrage and eroded trust. The 2025 rice emergency declaration, meant to unlock government buffer stocks, was slammed as contrived by critics who saw it as a political ploy tied to midterm election pressures[6]. The move raised questions about transparency and necessity, alienating stakeholders who expected data-driven governance.

More egregious was the February 2025 import of 4,000 metric tons of onions, timed disastrously with the local harvest season. The influx flooded markets, slashing prices and devastating farmers like Mang Pipoy, who couldn’t compete[6]. Laurel defended the imports as essential for supply stability, but the lack of consultation with local growers echoed a 2022 onion crisis that saw prices hit P720 per kilo, costing an assistant secretary their job. This repeat blunder exposed a disconnect between Laurel’s corporate instincts and the nuanced needs of agriculture.

Promises of modernization—rice processing centers, modern machinery, and a revised planting calendar to dodge typhoon losses—were ambitious but slow to materialize[7]. By May 2025, systemic issues like smuggling, inadequate subsidies, and low productivity persisted, with little evidence of transformative reforms. Laurel’s own pledge of “no more excuses” in his second year rang hollow as his resignation loomed, cutting short any chance to deliver.

Electoral Earthquake: The Resignation’s Political Roots

Laurel’s courtesy resignation on May 22, 2025, was no isolated act but part of a sweeping Cabinet revamp triggered by the administration’s dismal performance in the May 12, 2025, midterm elections. The Marcos-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas secured only six of twelve Senate seats, the lowest for an administration slate since 2007, signaling a public rebuke[8]. Marcos framed the overhaul as a “bold reset” to align with “the people’s clamor,” a response to voter frustration over economic struggles, including food inflation[9].

Laurel’s resignation statement was deferential: “I have submitted my courtesy resignation and now leave it to the President’s good judgment.”[10] Yet, the context points to political necessity over personal failure. Food price volatility, with rice and staples straining budgets, fueled public discontent, and the DA’s uneven performance under Laurel became a lightning rod for criticism. His exit, alongside those of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and ICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda, reflects Marcos’ bid to project responsiveness amid a crisis of confidence.

Time for a New Harvest: Why Marcos Must Let Laurel Go

President Marcos stands at a crossroads. Retaining Laurel risks cementing perceptions of an administration out of touch with its rural base. His business pedigree, while impressive, has not delivered the systemic reforms needed to tackle agriculture’s deep-rooted challenges. The onion import debacle and the questionable rice emergency reveal a leader whose corporate strategies faltered in the face of bureaucratic realities and farmer needs. Keeping him could signal to a skeptical public—fresh off a midterm drubbing—that Marcos values loyalty over results, further eroding trust in a government struggling to regain its footing.

Instead, Marcos should seize this moment to appoint a leader with grassroots agricultural experience or proven crisis-management skills. Dr. Emil Q. Javier, a National Scientist and former University of the Philippines president, brings decades of agricultural research and a farmer-centric perspective[11]. Alternatively, Luis “Rey” Velasco, former chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, offers a compelling blend of academic rigor and policy influence. With a PhD in Entomology and leadership roles like Dean of the UPLB College of Agriculture, Velasco introduced a pioneering Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology, advancing climate-adaptive farming[12]. His advocacy for youth in farming and service on national committees, like the Philippine Senate Committee on Science and Technology-Food and Agriculture Panel, equips him to address smuggling, low yields, and farmer poverty with a science-driven, inclusive approach[13]. While past nepotism concerns in unrelated roles could invite scrutiny, they do not overshadow his agricultural expertise.

Instead, Marcos should seize this moment to appoint a leader with grassroots agricultural experience or proven crisis-management skills. Dr. Emil Q. Javier, a National Scientist and former University of the Philippines president, brings decades of agricultural research and a farmer-centric perspective[11]. Alternatively, Luis “Rey” Velasco, who served as chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños from 2005 to 2011, offers a compelling blend of academic leadership and policy influence. With a PhD in Entomology and roles like Dean of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Director of the National Crop Protection Center, Velasco spearheaded the introduction of a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology, advancing climate-adaptive farming[12]. His advocacy for engaging youth in agriculture to ensure food security, coupled with his service on national committees like the Philippine Senate Committee on Science and Technology-Food and Agriculture Panel, equips him to tackle smuggling, low yields, and farmer poverty with a science-driven, inclusive approach[13]. While past nepotism concerns in unrelated roles could invite scrutiny, they do not overshadow his extensive agricultural expertise and proven leadership at UPLB[14].

From Fields to Future: Prioritizing Farmers Over Promises

Laurel’s tenure is not a story of malice but of missed chances. His private-sector shine couldn’t overcome the storms of climate, inflation, and bureaucracy. For every onion price tamed, a farmer like Mang Pipoy paid the price; for every modernization plan, delays left fields wanting. As Marcos reshapes his Cabinet, he must look beyond polished resumes to leaders who know the soil as well as the strategy. The cries of Nueva Ecija’s farmers demand a secretary who can deliver not just plans but progress—a chance to turn a page on a chapter of good intentions but faltering harvests.