He Department of agriculture held this Wednesday the swearing-in of Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosmewho will now be at the head of this institution after the President of the Republic, Luis Abinaderwill appoint him to replace Limber Cruz through Decree 2-26.
By heading the swearing-inthe Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Andres Bautistapointed out that the act represents “a routine change“that has occurred in the management of the ministry, which will now pass into the hands of a agricultural engineer with more than 30 years of service in the sector and who will have the responsibility of managing the budget and providing continuity to the programs established during the management of Cruz.
“This is what we mean. Clearly and transparent This follows, with the greatest sincerity. There is nothing in the backyard,” said Bautista, who told the press that they are coming “significant changes” for the Ministry, without detailing whether audits will be carried out on the institution, which in August 2025 was the subject of an investigation by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca) for alleged “embezzlement of million-dollar funds.”
Commitment
After his swearing-in, Oliverio Espaillat assured that he will continue “the good initiatives“prompted during the management de Cruz, while working to incorporate new projects technology and innovation in all productive sectors of the country.
“Although I come from rice sector“I want to make it clear that my vocation and my identity are fully agricultural,” he stated. Espaillat.
“I know the producer sacrificehe value of work in the countryside and the importance of each sector for the economy and social stability of the nation,” added the executive in front of close friends, agribusinessmen and employees of the Department of agriculture.
He recognized that, although the agricultural sector has been able to guarantee the food safety to the point that the production satisfies almost 90% of the demand of the local marketthese are figures that must be expanded, strengthened and sustained over time.
“For this reason, from today, I call on all productive sectors not to let their guard down, to confirm in the country and in its future. From this managementwe will work with everyone on equal terms with dialogue, I respect and vision of the future“he stated.
A “complex” ministry
“Luis (Abinader) could not have chosen someone better than Oliverio“, emphasized the outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruzwho described the ministry as “extremely important” but also “extremely complex.”
“You deal with variables that you don’t control, like droughtthe big rains, the pestsdiseases, cyclones, windstorms, the environment… you cannot control all of this but you have to be resilient and you have to overcome all those crises that come your way,” he said.
Cruz pondered his own management as a work carried out “with I respectwith dignity and courage”, in which a significant increase in the production agriculture and exports of potential items.
