Francisco "Kiko" P. Tiu Laurel Jr. was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as the Secretary of the Philippine Department of Agriculture on November 3, 2023. His leadership focuses on adopting a science-based approach to rice farming to improve yield and establish a sustainable rice value chain. He aims to modernize and mechanize farming, enhance agricultural infrastructure, employ the latest technologies, and reduce dependence on imports to lower rice prices. Before his appointment, he held leadership roles in various agricultural organizations and served as President of Agusan Power Corporation and Frabelle Fishing Corporation.