President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may have drafted a shortlist for his replacement as the Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

In an interview with Anthony Taberna’s “Tune In Kay Tunying,” Bersamin said the shortlist for new DA chief was likely, further stating that Marcos had been eyeing it for a long time.

“Maaari, mayroon [nang shortlist]. Matagal na ‘yan iniisip niya ‘yan,” he said.

“Ito kasing pagpipili ng sekretaryo siguro tinatantiya niya kung sino yung dapat dahil ang agriculture portfolio ay napakaraming issues dyan. Wala pa akong balita kung meron na siyang napupusuan but he is I think on the way to that,” he added.

Bersamin, however, claimed that with the state of the country’s agriculture portfolio and compounding agricultural issues, his bet still lies with the president.

“Ang kasing natatanggap niyang payo, marami rin nagsasabi sa kanya na maganda kung siya dahil sa dami ng problema diyan sa agrikultura kailangan talagang presidente ang humawak nun sa ngayon. Sa kalagitnaan ng mga issues na ito kailangan mas malaking authority na kagaya niya,” he said.

The executive secretary also conceded that others had been saying it was time for Marcos to vacate the position as DA chief and concentrate on the rest of the problems faced by the country.

“Mayroon ding nagsasabi na panahon na ibigay niya sa iba at magconcentrate na lang siya sa mga ibang pangangailangan ng bayan ngunit sa aking tingin mas matimbang yung mga nagsasabi sa kanya na he should still be there,” Bersamin said.

Sen. Chiz Escudero earlier called for Marcos to assign a different DA secretary for the post.