History

As the country’s 17th President, President Ferdinand

Romualdez Marcos, Jr. made the unprecedented decision of
designating himself as the concurrent head of the Department
of Agriculture amidst the looming global food crisis. In his
inaugural message on June 30, the President noted that the
country’s agriculture sector “cries for urgent attention” after
years of neglect and misdirection.

His plan of action for the short-term is to increase the yield of

the country’s main staple and provide support to those in need
of government assistance. Over the long-term, he is pushing for
multi-year planning focused on the restructuring of the food
value chain from research to development to retail. With the
support of the DA family, the Department under Marcos’
leadership will work fast and efficiently to surmount the
numerous challenges that threaten the country’s food supply
and stymied the growth of the farm sector for decades.

First Philippine Republic, American Regime

The Department of Agriculture and Manufacturing was formed 11 days after the proclamation
of the Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898. The Department was one of the first agencies that
President Emilio Aguinaldo formed.

The Department was then headed by three directors, Jose Alejandrino (1898-1899), Graciano
Gonzaga, and Leon Ma. Guerrero, during the latter part of 1899.

In 1901 during the American colonial period, the Department was renamed Insular Bureau of
Agriculture under the Department of Interior and was headed by Americans, Frank Lamson-
Scribner (1902), W.C. Welborn (1904), and Dr. George Nesom (1907).

In 1910, the Bureau, under the supervision of the Department of Public Instruction, was headed
by Frederick Taylor (1911-1914) and Harry Edwards (1914-1916).

In 1917, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) took over the functions of
the bureau and was led by Secretaries Galicano Apacible (1917-1921), Rafael Corpuz (1921-1923),
and Silverio Apostol (1923-1928).
 Galicano Apacible Rafael Corpuz
(1917-1921) (1921-1923)

Silverio Apostol
(1923-1928)

During the administration of Secretary Rafael

Alunan, Sr. (1928-1932), the DANR became the
Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The Bureau of
Agriculture was split into two bureaus, the Plant Industry
and the Animal Industry.

The following year, the Fish and Game Administration and

the Fiber Inspection Service were established under the
leadership of Secretary Vicente Singson
Encarnacion (1933-1934).

From 1934-1938, Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. was appointed

Secretary who was replaced by Secretary Benigno S. Aquino, Sr. until 1941. During Aquino’s term, the
Fish and Game Administration was restructured and the Division of Soil Survey was created.

With the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific, President Manuel Quezon re-
appointed Secretary Rafael Alunan, Sr. (1941-1942) as Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce.
Rafael Alunan, Sr. Vicente Singson Encarnacion
(1933-1934) (1928-1932)

Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr.

(1934-1938)

Postwar Period

Mariano Garchitorena
(1946-1948)
 After the country’s Liberation from the Japanese on July 4, 1945, the government rebuilt the
country and reconstituted the agencies including the Department of Agriculture and Commerce (DAC).
With the resumption of the Commonwealth Government, President Sergio Osmeña reappointed Vicente
Singson Encarnacion as Secretary of the DAC. Thereafter, Mariano Garchitorena (1946-1948) was
appointed by President Manuel Roxas.

In 1947, the Department was named again as the Department of Agriculture and Natural
Resources (DANR). In September 1948, President Elpidio Quirino appointed Placido L. Mapa as its
Secretary.

Placido L. Mapa
(1948-1949)

Two years later (1950), Vice President Fernando

Lopez served concurrently as the DANR chief. During his
term, the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (now
Agricultural Training Institute) was established, along with
the organization of the 4-H Clubs and Rural Improvement
Clubs (RICs) nationwide.

In 1953, President Quirino reappointed Placido L.

Mapa to lead the Department. Under his tenure, the Rice
Economic Board was set up, making the rice industry the
first commodity to benefit from an integrated national planning.

Salvador Araneta (1953-1955) was later named as Secretary and three major agencies under the
DANR were created, namely: Agricultural Tenancy Commission, precursor of the Department of Agrarian
Reform; Philippine Tobacco Administration, forerunner of the National Tobacco Administration; and
Philippine Coconut Administration (now known as Philippine Coconut Authority).

Salvador Araneta
(1953-1955)

During the latter part of his term, President

Magsaysay appointed Juan G. Rodriguez (1955-1960) as
DANR chief, whose term was highlighted by several
milestones: the Philippines became a member of the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO);
launch of the National Rice and Corn Production Program;
and creation of the Rice and Corn Coordinating Council, forerunner of the National Agricultural and
Fishery Council (NAFC).

DA Moved to Quezon City

On September 14, 1959, the DANR offices moved from Manila (at Agrifina Circle) to Quezon City
(along Elliptical Road in Diliman).

When Cesar Fortich became the DANR chief in 1961, the Abaca Development Board (forerunner
of the Fiber Development Authority) was created. Jose Locsin, then concurrent Chairman of the
National Economic Council, succeeded Fortich from September to December 1961.

Benjamin Gozon
(1962-1963)

In 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal

appointed Benjamin M. Gozon as Secretary. During his
term, two agencies were created: the Bureau of
Agricultural Economics (forerunner of the Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics); and the National Rice and Corn
Administration or RCA (now known as the National Food
Authority).

The following year, President Macapagal

appointed RCA Administrator Jose Y. Feliciano as
concurrent Secretary of Agriculture. Feliciano launched the Agricultural Marketing News Service that
provided farmers and consumers prices of selected commodities regularly.

Arturo Tanco, Jr.

(1974-1984)

In 1965, President Ferdinand Marcos named Vice

Pres. Lopez as Secretary, serving for the second time in a
concurrent capacity. Considered as the “rice czar,” he
successfully implemented a production program that
enabled the Philippines to export rice for the first time in
1968.

During the early years of Martial Law, in May

1974, President Marcos reorganized and split the DANR
into two agencies: Department of Agriculture (DA); and Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Arturo
R. Tanco, Jr. was named DA Secretary.

DA Renamed as Ministry of Agriculture

Salvador H. Escudero III

(1984-1985)

Four years later, government departments were

transformed into ministries with the country’s shift to
parliamentary form of government.

With Tanco remaining at the helm of the Ministry

of Agriculture (MA), the Masagana 99 rice production
program was launched which made the country self-
sufficient and a rice exporter. A similar program on corn
also made the country self-sufficient in white corn. In
June 1978, the MA established 12 regional offices
nationwide.

Six years later, in June 1984, the agency was renamed Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF).
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources was transferred from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

In 1984, under a parliamentary government, Assemblyman Salvador H. Escudero III — former

Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry and MAF Deputy Minister — served as MAF Minister.
Escudero implemented the Intensive Rice Production Program (IRPP), an import-substitution program,
expanded government’s animal dispersal program, particularly the Bakahang Barangay (cattle raising the
at village level) and Pagbababuyan (swine raising).

People Power, Renamed to DA

Ramon V. Mitra, Jr.
(1986-1987)

Carlos G. Dominguez
(1987-1990)

Senen C. Bacani
(1990-1991)
 Roberto S. Sebastian
(1992-1996)

On February 1986, as a result of the ‘EDSA People Power Revolution,’ Corazon C. Aquino was
catapulted as President. She named Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. as MAF Minister who implemented policy and
institutional reforms that freed the agriculture markets, enabling farmers to enjoy higher farmgate
prices.

In 1987, MAF Deputy Minister Carlos G. Dominguez was appointed to replace Mitra who opted
to run for Representative of the second district of Palawan.

On January 30, 1987, President Aquino signed and issued Executive Order No. 116, which
renamed and reorganized the MAF into the Department of Agriculture.

Under DA, Dominguez introduced reforms in the rural credit system and established the
Comprehensive Agricultural Loan Fund (CALF). In 1988, he also launched the Livelihood Enhancement
for Agricultural Development (LEAD) program to speed up farmers’ organizations access to financing,
management expertise, and marketing. Agriculture and Fishery Councils (AFCs) were set up at the
sectoral, regional, provincial and municipal levels to provide inputs on major programs and policy
decisions and help plan and monitor DA projects. Senen C. Bacani, appointed in January
1990, implemented the Rice Action Program (RAP) and Corn Production Enhancement Program (CPEP).

President Aquino appointed Senen Bacani as Secretary in 1990-1991. His leadership enabled the
private sector to take the lead in further developing fresh fruits business in the resource-rich Mindanao.

In 1992, President Fidel V. Ramos named Roberto S. Sebastian as DA chief who introduced the
Key Production Approach (KPA) which became the basis of the Medium-Term Agricultural Development
Plan (MTADP).

In 1996, President Ramos appointed Dr. Salvador H. Escudero III as DA Secretary, for the second
time. During his two-year tenure, he launched the Gintong Ani food production and security program.

Dar’s First Stint

 William D. Dar
(1998-1999)

In July 1998, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada

designated William D. Dar as Acting DA Secretary who
introduced the Estrada administration’s 10-point agenda
in agriculture and fisheries under the Agrikulturang
Makamasa program.

In March 1999, President Estrada named former

Senate President Edgardo J. Angara as DA Secretary who
authored the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act
of 1997 or AFMA (Republic Act No. 8435). He put into
motion the law’s vision of modernizing the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector.

Domingo F. Panganiban continued the implementation of AFMA as the government’s comprehensive

framework and platform for rural development when he assumed office in January 2001.

A month later, he was replaced by Leonardo Q. Montemayor who implemented the AFMA with special
emphasis on its social equity aspect. He launched the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Countrywide
Assistance for Rural Employment and Services (GMA-CARES).

Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo Jr., took the helm at the Department in December 2002 and spearheaded the
launching of the Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) transport program. The hybridization programs of the
Department were intensified and interventions were focused on the Mindanao regions.

Secretary Arthur C. Yap, appointed on August 23, 2004, continued to uphold the vision of agricultural
modernization. During his first term, he unveiled the GMA Goal 1 (develop two million hectares of new
lands for agribusiness to contribute two million to the 10 million jobs targeted by 2010) and GMA Goal
2 (make food plentiful while keeping the price of “wage goods” at low prices).

During Panganiban’s second term as Secretary, a total of 203,000 hectares of idle lands and 313,000 jobs
were developed under Goal 1 and 10 Huwarang Palengke (outstanding markets) were identified under
Goal 2.

When Yap returned to the DA in October, 2006, he implemented various projects and policies towards
the attainment of food security and self-sufficiency. Upon Secretary Yap’s decision to run as
Representative of the 3rd District of Bohol, Secretary Bernie Fondevilla took over in March 2010.
 Domingo F. Panganiban

Leonardo Q. Montemayor
Luis P. Lorenzo, Jr.

Arthur C. Yap
 Proceso J. Alcala

On June 30, 2010, President Benigno S. Aquino III

appointed two-term congressman of Quezon and civil
engineer by profession Proceso J. Alcala as Secretary. One
of the principal authors of Republic Act 10068, or the
Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, he also aimed to achieve
self-sufficiency in rice during his term.

Emmanuel F. Piñol was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte

on July 1, 2016. He vowed to bring agriculture and fisheries program to
basic by addressing food production and poverty. Under his watch,
efforts were geared towards production and trade of staple food
commodities to ensure food sufficiency and security; and high-value
crops to generate jobs and foreign earnings.

Dr. William D. Dar was called again to serve government as the

Secretary of Agriculture on August 5, 2019, under the administration of
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Upon his assumption to office, Dar
introduced the “New Thinking for Agriculture” which is anchored on the
vision: A food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and
fisherfolk. The vision has over-arching twin goals of increasing
productivity and making farmers and fishers prosperous or his term’s
battlecry, “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita”. With President
Duterte’s marching order to arrest the anemic growth of the agriculture
sector, which has barely grown in the past decade, at a rate of 1.1% annually, Dar targets the agriculture
to grow at least 2%, from August 2019 to July 2020; and increase up to 2.5-3% in 2021; and 3-4% in
2022.