the member associations were in attendance and a host of supportive industry partners. Cocktails being part of the program began with the jolly Farmer Bong Mercado of JK Mercado and Sons, Inc. representing Davao Hog Farmers Association serving about his personally concocted rum-soda mixture while former Congressman Roger Sarmiento, Farmer Bing Sison of the Pangasinan Agri Ventures Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Farmer Stanley Siu of the United Quezon Hog Farmers Association and Farmer Dan Javellana of the United Batangas Hog Raisers Association took the opportunity to land the Secretary by their table.

Despite the persuasions of Farmer Bong Mercado about the benefits of rum-soda, the Secretary preferred a beer instead, and as the introductions and pleasantries died down, the Chairman took the opportunity to toast the newly appointed secretary and settled for a sumptuous dinner with that trademark pata tim on the menu.

A Banquet for Incoming DA Secretary
 

Last August 4, 2005 the Federation hosted a special Welcome Dinner for the newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture, the Honorable Domingo A. Panganiban. It was held at the seafood specialty, Harbor City Restaurant in San Juan and ensured an exceptional pork recipe in the menu.

As announced the Secretary’s party dutifully arrived at about 7:30 pm and included recent appointees, Assistant Secretary Doy Salacup, the OIC for DA Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries Operations and Director Divinio P. “Dave” Catbagan of the Bureau of Animal Industry. The Chairman, Gaby Uy, Vice Chairman Renato R. Eleria and Treasurer Johnson C. Dycaico and wife Anna Lizza received the guests and ran the rosters of members and friends present around the banquet hall, while the Corporate Secretary Francisco Wong casually in the background updated the gathering on power point presentations of the Federation website and other projects.

The dinner event was well attended filling the place to the brim as most of the Presidents of
 

Discussions during the dinner centered on the Secretary’s initial moves in the Department which included his ideas of trimming down the top-heavy bureaucracy that carried seven undersecretaries. He in fact mentioned emphatically that four undersecretaries would be sufficient to efficiently run the department. Other moves include his crack down on graft and corruption and lifestyle checks in the Department.

Chairman Gaby Uy expressed his sincere appreciation at the appointment of Ding Panganiban as Secretary and emphasized his greater expectations pointing out that the Secretary was hailed from the ranks, giving the industry the advantage of having a well versed appointee in its operations other than one appointed outside the DA. The Secretary humbly but firmly accepted his comments and mentioned that the hog farming industry was developed by the private sector and would be better off without government intervention.

The NFHF Corporate Secretary placidly presented the Federation’s wish list for several issues including the amendments to the Executive Order No. 376, the revised rules and regulations on meat importations, the maintenance of the Minimum Access Volumes and lifting of the moratorium on ACEF, to which ASec. Salacup responded favorably.

Chairman Gaby Uy also pledged the Federation’s continued and unwavering participation in the private sector forum of the NAFC Committee on Poultry, Livestock and Feedgrains, the National Hog

Action Team which implements the National Hog Industry Master Development Plan and the advisory councils of the BAI, the NMIS and the Minimum Access Volume Advisory Council (MAC). Chairman Uy also added that the Federation will continue to pursue the Commercialization Project with the Livestock Development Council, begun under former Secretary “Cito” Lorenzo and sustained under Secretary Arthur C. Yap.

When asked about the corn situation, Secretary Panganiban was confident of sufficient production, however assuring the hog farmers that he would consider importation to fill in whatever shortfalls there may be in this year’s production.

The Secretary looked tired and explained his long day, and was quite lip-shut on several issues. ASec. Salacup swayed Chairman Gaby Uy to minimize the fanfare to allow the members personal access to the Secretary.

Chairman Gaby Uy tried to do as requested, but the indefatigable Federation lady hog Farmers Dong Tan, Lily Ang, Miling Robles and Cora Occidental took the opportunity to bring Secretary Panganiban around the other tables for their coveted photo-opportunity sessions. At this point, the dinner event turned into a bustling party as the photo sessions induced candor from everyone to the delight of the Secretary.

The Federation, through Chairman Gaby Uy, presented a special plaque of appreciation highlighting the words “in acknowledgement of his appointment as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and in appreciation of his humble acceptance of the position”. The Secretary reluctantly accepted his plaque stressing that he “had not done anything yet.” Chairman Uy responded appropriately, “you were always there and we acknowledge that.”

 
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