France confers agricultural merit award to DoT Sec. Romulo-Puyat
Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has been awarded the Ordre du Mérite Agricole (Order of Agricultural Merit) with the rank of Officier (Officer) by the French government in recognition of her decades-long commitment in supporting the agricultur al sector and promoting food culture in the Philippines.
Created in 1883 by then-French Agricultural Minister Jules Méline, the Order of Agricultural Merit is an honorific order conferred by the French government to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the agricultural and rural sector.
As Tourism Secretary from 2018 to 2022, Romulo-Puyat continued to place agriculture as a priority through the promotion of agricultural and farm tourism, cultural heritage and local gastronomy. She first served as Undersecretary for Special Concerns, Administration and Finance and Agribusiness and Marketing at the Department of Agriculture from 2007 to 2018.
Ambassador Boccoz cited Puyat’s numerous contributions to Philippine agriculture, particularly in promoting Filipino agricultural products locally and abroad, supporting gender-inclusive agriculture, expanding and strengthening links between farmers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and distributors, and encouraging the adoption of modern techniques in the agricultural sector.
“Seeing firsthand the issues and concerns that our farmers and fisherfolk encountered on a daily basis, from getting their produce or seafood to the market, gaining ready access to credit or needing to increase yields or efficiency, my colleagues and I went to such great lengths to bring greater attention to the country’s agricultural products, helping to give them the support they need, whether from a financial, marketing or capacity-building standpoint, in order to boost their standard of living and sustain their livelihoods for the years to come,” Romulo-Puyat said in her speech.
In addition, Romulo-Puyat said she shares the award with the people of the Philippines, most especially to the farmers and fisherfolk “without whom we would not be standing here today.”
France and the Philippines are also celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties this year. “It is my wish that this bond only grows deeper and stronger than ever before,” Romulo-Puyat added.
A bilateral cooperation agreement was signed in 2017 to consolidate institutional relations between France’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture. It aims to strengthen the agricultural and technical cooperation in specific sectors and areas of common interest of both countries.
France and the Philippines is also celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties this year. “It is my wish that this bond only grows deeper and stronger than ever before,” Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.