MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III appointed on Monday former Senator Francis Pangilinan as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, Malacañang said.
Pangilinan’s position has a Cabinet rank and he is scheduled to take an oath of office before the President at the Palace Music Room this afternoon.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. made the announcement in confirmation of reports that resurfaced over the weekend regarding the matter.
Coloma said Pangilinan’s position is similar to that of former Senator now Presidential Adviser on Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson, thus, he will also hold the title of Secretary.
President Aquino since last year had been open about his plans to have Pangilinan in the Cabinet following his 12-year stint at the Senate of the Philippines.
“Kiko in particular has several aspects of the agricultural sector that he wants to concentrate on. He is a partymate. He has already discussed his ideas with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and we will try to maximize his involvement to the benefit of the agricultural sector,” President Aquino told reporters in a March 2013 interview.
