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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 […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) formally accepted the Senate’s challenge to take the lead on farm-to-market road (FMR) projects—a responsibility long held by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). In remarks delivered during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing for the DA’s proposed 2026 budget, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. declared the […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) visit to Batanes, one of the northernmost provinces of the Philippines, to roll out critical support for the local farming and fishing communities. The visit marked the official launch of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship food program–“P20 Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”–in the province, […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government will extend the ban on rice importation until the end of this year, allow imports only in January 2026, and reimpose the ban in February, to stabilize supply in time for the dry season harvest. Speaking before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture, Tiu Laurel […]