Agriculture Secretary William Dar was given the “Lifetime Contributor” award for the public sector at the Asia CEO Awards 2020. Richard Mills, chair of the award-giving body, noted Dar’s leadership in creating a “dynamic high-growth” agricultural sector.
“William Dar is a global leader in agriculture governance and research. As current secretary of agriculture, he is leading efforts to transform Philippine agriculture into a dynamic high-growth sector to speed up the country’s recovery and poverty reduction,” says Mills.
According to the Department of Agriculture’s official website, the sector grew by 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2020 despite the economic decline brought by the pandemic.
Secretary Dar, whose career in agriculture spans four decades, said the recognition will give workers and leaders in the public sector the motivation to strive for excellence in the service of the country. He wants to continue his responsibilities in the agency through “good governance, transparency, consultative engagement, and most importantly, with a greater sense of urgency.”
“This protracted crisis has highlighted, more than ever, the importance of food adequacy and nutrition security to protect the people’s welfare during such a difficult period, as well as the critical role of the agri-fishery sector in rebuilding our economy under the new normal,” the DA chief adds.
The 11th Asia CEO Awards is set to be streamed live on their Facebook page on Oct. 13 when the board of judges will formally announce the awardees of the different categories.
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