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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, […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) warned rice retailers, traders, and importers that violators of the government’s newly imposed price ceiling on imported rice could face jail time, million-peso fines, and even business closures under the Price Act. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a 30-day price ceiling on imported 5 percent broken rice to curb what […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) unveiled the Philippine Sustainable Agriculture Transformation (PSAT) Program, backed by a $1-billion World Bank (WB) financing package, aiming to modernize the country’s agriculture, boost productivity, and strengthen food security. PSAT marks the Philippines’ first project under the World Bank’s Program-for-Results (PforR) model, which releases funds based on measurable outcomes rather […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is prepared to immediately enforce President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s executive order imposing a price ceiling on imported rice, a move aimed at cushioning consumers from surging food costs amid inflationary pressures triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. Executive Order No. 118 imposes a P50-per-kilo cap on […]
Philippine agriculture sector, with improving rice output and steady gains in livestock and poultry expected to offset a weak first-quarter performance, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, even as emerging risks cloud the outlook later this year. “We are seeing encouraging signs on the ground, with rice production likely recovering in the second quarter […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is ramping up efforts to expand the Philippines’ coffee industry, earmarking a substantial amount for a farm-to-market road network that would open up vast tracks of land in Sultan Kudarat. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the planned infrastructure will improve access to remote agricultural areas, a long-standing constraint […]