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The Department of Agriculture (DA) is moving to help deliver on a commitment by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vietnamese President Tô Lâm to expand bilateral trade to $20 billion, up from the current $15 billion, while seeking to narrow a persistent trade gap that heavily favors Vietnam. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said […]
The Philippines formally pledged its participation in the International Horticultural Expo 2027 in Yokohama, positioning the event as both a trade platform and a showcase for climate-resilient agriculture during the State Visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Japan. At the ceremonial contract signing held recently in the capital city of Japan, Agriculture Secretary Francisco […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Philippines is stepping up agricultural cooperation with Japan to expand exports, modernize farming systems, and strengthen long-term food security following high-level meetings involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese officials. Tiu Laurel said talks with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture centered on technology exchange, logistics efficiency, and broader […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the reconvening of the Department of Agriculture’s El Niño task force to prepare the country for a potentially severe episode later this year, warning that the prolonged dry spell could hit crop production, hurt farmers’ incomes, and drive up food prices. “It is imperative that we put […]
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has acquired a rice quality analyzer (RQA) aimed at strengthening government efforts to enforce Philippine rice standards and establish technical benchmarks that could eventually distinguish locally produced rice from imported varieties. In a report submitted to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban said the […]
The Philippine government is strengthening its whole-of-government approach to food security and rural development through a new inter-agency framework aimed at empowering agricultural cooperatives and improving government support for farmers and fisherfolk nationwide. The Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) brings together the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Cooperative […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the expanded rollout of Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!, the flagship food program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in Kalinga, while distributing nearly P148 million in agricultural support to local farmers for 2026. The program, designed to strengthen rice and corn production, aligns with the government’s broader goal of […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) lodged formal complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and private contractors over alleged irregularities involving eight “ghost” Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) projects in Davao Occidental, totaling approximately P94 million. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the filing […]
The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has slapped suspension and preventive suspension orders on five fertilizer firms over alleged violations of fertilizer laws and regulatory policies, amid concerns over counterfeit products, mislabelling, and unauthorized distribution activities. The sanctions followed separate investigations, monitoring operations, and compliance checks involving fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and product registrants. “The violations […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has reached an agreement with rice industry stakeholders to set a suggested retail price (SRP) of P53 per kilo for local rice, striking a balance between farmers’ profits and consumers’ budgets. The SRP positions local rice slightly above imported 5-percent broken rice, […]