Piñol vows to “work just as hard” as MinDA chair

FORMER AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol on Wednesday took his oath as the new chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). In a social media post, Mr. Piñol said: “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.” He said the position has a fixed term of six years “thus ensuring sustainability of all initiatives beyond the term of the incumbent President.” Mr. Piñol noted that his new responsibility is “a multi-task job” that would involve agriculture, trade and commerce, international relations and 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),” he said. “My added task is to serve as President Rody (Rodrigo R.) Duterte’s ‘Point Person’ to the newly formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).” A Mindanaoan, Mr. Piñol said the new post “will also bring me closer to my family and, of course, my farm.” He also vowed that: “Just as when I was Secretary of Agriculture I will work just as hard.” — Arjay L. Balinbin