By Manny Piñol
Earlier today, I received a call from the Press Office of the Department of Agriculture saying that mediamen are asking about my foreign travels since I assumed office as Secretary of Agriculture.
Let this post serve as my statement in response to the issue.
Yes, I had many official foreign travels and one personal trip to the US last December to visit a dying friend.
(My friend, Dennis Maniwang, a Boholano whose family lives in Salinas, California, died Jan. 6.)
All of my official travels were all related to my job as Secretary of Agriculture and approved by the Office of the President.
Many of those trips were made as member of the Official Delegation during Pres. Rody Duterte’s State Visits.
Others were APEC, ASEAN, UN FAO and international engagements and I was always present in all the meetings.
Hindi ako nagbulakbol.
My last official travel was to Buenos Aires as Co-Head Of Delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.
Here are a few details that I would like to emphasize:
1. I never travelled First Class, always Economy Class.
2. I never stayed in 5-Star Hotels, except when the Presidential Management Staff makes a prior booking for us Cabinet Secretaries to stay in the same hotel with the President. In fact, when I chaired the UN FAO Conference in Rome, I rented an apartment for nine days.
3. I travel with one or two staff, depending on the nature of the trip, one of whom is my brother, Ferdinand, who is my Head Executive Asst., or an Executive Asst., Mayette Tudlas. You don’t really expect me to travel alone and carry documents all by myself? For those who question the employment of my brother in the DA, please know that Civil Service allows Confidential Positions for a Cabinet Secretary and he could hire anybody he trusts.
4. I never claimed extra-ordinary expenses beyond what was allowed by law. Those who have joined me in these trips could vouch that I am not comfortable dining in fancy restaurants.
5. I have refused many other equally important travels including the ASEAN Agri Ministers meeting in India which starts today and an Agriculture Ministers Forum in Germany this month because I also have to go around the country, especially in times of calamities.
6. I dont really enjoy long flights because of a recurring back pain which hurts when I sit for 14 hours. But the trips must be made because they are all important.
Is the number of my trips excessive? Were the travels made without corresponding benefits to the agriculture and fisheries interests of the country?
That is for President Rody Duterte to determine.
If he thinks I have abused my position, I am willing to give up my post and go home to my farm.
At least there, nobody would question how many trips I make to the chicken house.
(This photo was taken in the Economy Section of the Emirates Airways on the way home to the Philippines from the WTO Negotiations in Buenos Aires. This was taken on Dec. 16, my 64th birthday, while we were flying over the African Continent. Photo by Mayette Tudlas.)
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