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The government’s move to impose a floor price for rice purchases by state agencies is expected to set a strong benchmark that will raise farmers’ incomes and strengthen the National Food Authority’s (NFA) role in ensuring fair grain prices, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. “The floor price is an integral part of the […]
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 […]
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 Department of Agriculture (DA) has officially declared Batanes as an “Organic Farming Practitioner Province,” a designation that is expected to enhance local livelihoods and position the province as a leading agro-tourism destination. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed the administrative order recently formalizing the recognition of Batanes as “organic by default”. Batanes’ 13,208.90 […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr., Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Paul Azcona, and SRA Board Member and Farmers’ Representative Dave Sanson met recently to address concerns over the low prices of raw sugar seen during the first sugar bidding in Negros on October 9. Sugar biddings are held weekly throughout the harvest season, typically spanning […]