Rome – Right after the conclusion of the ASEAN Summit and the BIMP-EAGA Session in Bangkok yesterday, I took an 11-hour flight to Rome to attend the 41st Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference.
Representing the Philippines, I was elected Chairperson of the FAO Conference in 2017, making history as the first Filipino Agriculture Secretary to Chair the Conference attended by 197 countries.
My Chairmanship officially ended in this week’s 41st Session which wss also marked by the election of the new Director General of FAO, Qu Dhongyun of China who succeeds Brazil’s Jose Graziano da Silva.
In this session, I was succeeded by the Agriculture Minister of Uruguay, Enzo Benech, who will serve for the next two years.
It will take another 10 years before the Session Chairmanship turn is given to Asia and he or she may come from other Asian countries.
For a farm boy born to a poor family, this is an experience and an achievement I will never forget and will treasure for the rest of my life.
Hindi ako lubos makapaniwala na parang kailan lang nakasakay ako sa likod ng kalabaw at nagpapastol sa bukid.
Ngayon, binabahagi ko na sa mga Ministro ng Agriculture ng ibang mga bansa at ating pananaw at ginagawa sa ating bansa.
I am deeply humbled.
I thank President Rodrigo Duterte for allowing me to serve the Filipino people, especially the farmers and fisherfolk.
As I have stated previously, I may not be the best, brightest and most competent but I assure the Filipino that I love my work and will strive to serve beyond what is expected from me.
Salamat Mahal na Pangulo sa pagkakataong makatulong sa inyong paninilbihan sa bayan.
( With Ambassador Ding Nolasco, Asec Noel Padre, Agri Attache Jojo Lazaro, IAD Director Boots Escandor and EA Mayette Tudlas)
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