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Government

DA: PH BANS IMPORTATION OF BIRDS FROM NEW ZEALAND

The Department of Agriculture has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of both domestic and wild birds from New Zealand following reports of an avian influenza outbreak in that country. In a memorandum order No. 01, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed that tests conducted by the New Zealand National Animal Health Laboratory […]

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Government

IMPORTED RICE AT P60/KILO IS PROFITEERING – DA

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. raised concern over persistently high rice prices, particularly the sale of imported rice at P60 per kilo, calling it indicative of profiteering. Tiu Laurel’s comments followed a recent consultative meeting with rice importers and millers, where DA officials scrutinized the industry’s pricing practices. “The exorbitant price of imported rice […]

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Government

DA EXPANDS WESTERN VISAYAS COPRA MEAL PROJECT

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. has ordered the expansion of the Protein-Enriched Copra Meal (PECM) commercialization project to Western Visayas (Region VI), aimed at boosting local livestock production by providing a sustainable, cost-effective alternative protein source for animal feeds. Launched in 2022 as a response to supply disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the ongoing […]

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Government

DA: PH EYEING MORE RICE IMPORTS FROM PAKISTAN

The Philippines and Pakistan are optimistic they could reach a final deal by June next year on the allocation by the South Asian nation of at least 1 million metric tons of rice to fill a quarter of Manila’s annual import requirement of the food staple. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Dr. […]

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Government

DA CHIEF WANTS ‘UNBRANDED’ IMPORTED RICE

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has announced plans to remove brand labels from imported rice, citing concerns that some industry players are manipulating the system to inflate prices and exploit Filipino consumers. “After conducting a series of market visits, we now have reason to believe that some retailers and traders are intentionally confusing Filipino […]

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Government

P40 PER KILO RICE NOW IN MORE METRO MANILA MARKETS

The Department of Agriculture is adding four public markets in Metro Manila where P40 per kilo well-milled rice will be sold under the Rice-for-All program to provide consumers with options amid stubbornly high prices of the food staple. KADIWA ng Pangulo rice kiosks in the four additional markets started offering the P40 a kilo rice […]

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Government

DA BANS IMPORTED LIVE CATTLE, PRODUCTS FROM JAPAN

The Department of Agriculture has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of live cattle and buffalo, as well as their products, from Japan due to the outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) based on memorandum order no. 57. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the import ban is essential to protect the local […]

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Government

DA: ALLOW NFA TO SELL, BUY RICE AT LOWER PRICES

At the third meeting of the ‘Murang Pagkain’ Super Committee, the Department of Agriculture (DA) proposed the restoration of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to buy and sell rice at lower prices. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the need for restoring the NFA’s power to directly intervene in the rice market by […]

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Government

DA THANKS CONGRESS FOR EXTENDING RCEF TO 2031

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a new law amending the Rice Tariffication Law to extend funding for rice industry modernization and to triple the allocation aimed at enhancing food security and lifting millions of Filipinos who depend on rice cultivation out of poverty. Republic Act 12078 amends Republic Act 11203, also known as RTL, to extend […]

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Government

DA BLACKLISTS 10 FIRMS LINKED TO IRREGULARITIES

The Department of Agriculture, through its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), has blacklisted 10 companies in the past six months for engaging in illegal trade activities, marking a significant crackdown on smuggling and other unlawful agricultural trade practices. “We have blacklisted more companies in the past six months than in the past six years combined,” […]