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The flagship food program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!—is sweeping across the nation, bringing affordable rice to millions of Filipinos who need it most. Before the year ends, the Department of Agriculture (DA) expects the P20-per-kilo rice program to be available in all 81 provinces, fulfilling a campaign promise to put food […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he does not expect Tropical Cyclone Tino’s impact on the Visayas and parts of Mindanao to disrupt the country’s rice supply but warned that corn production may suffer significant losses. “We’re not too worried about rice since the harvest is almost complete in major producing provinces and most […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and local hog producers have agreed in a meeting recently to establish a minimum farmgate price of P210 per kilo for live hogs, a measure aimed at rescuing the struggling swine industry from mounting financial losses. Local producers, represented by the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), National Federation of Hog […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. vowed stronger government support for the country’s banana sector, unveiling a package of interventions to fight the spread of Panama disease and restore competitiveness in global markets. Speaking at the 32nd Joint General Assembly of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the Banana Export Industry Foundation […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has officially declared the Province of Bulacan as free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, following effective containment of a confirmed outbreak in December 2024. The Department of Agriculture (DA) made the declaration after extensive disease surveillance yielded negative results for the virus in and around the affected area. Extensive […]
The Department of Agriculture will take over starting 2026 from the Department of Public Works and Highways the development of farm-to-market roads—vital infrastructure that drives rural economies, lowers production costs, and brings prosperity to the countryside. The move signals a more focused approach to agricultural lifelines, ensuring every kilometer built directly supports farming communities. Agriculture […]
The Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Department of Agriculture (DA), has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) for the development of a P3.6-billion Bagsakan ng Bayan Mega Food Hub (BBM Food Hub)—a large-scale agri-food complex aimed at boosting food security and farmer […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the launch of “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, the flagship food security program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that delivers rice at only P20 per kilo — a lifeline for vulnerable sectors and a new market opportunity for Filipino farmers. Speaking at the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered stricter market monitoring to ensure that the P43 per kilo maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on imported rice is enforced—despite the current suspension of rice importation. “Teams from AMAS (the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service) will visit markets where price increases on imported rice have been reported. […]
The National Food Authority (NFA) started the pilot testing a 1-tonner bagging system for palay, aiming to reduce storage costs, increase warehousing capacity, and improve grain quality preservation. “This is part of our broader effort to upgrade NFA’s storage capacity with minimal cost to the government,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who also chairs […]