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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has called on officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fast-track the implementation of critical projects and ensure the actual disbursement of funds, rather than merely obligating them. In a directive issued at the end of April during the DA Management Committee (ManCom) meeting, Tiu Laurel emphasized the […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned consumers against purchasing imported white onions—typically larger than locally grown varieties—following the seizure in Pampanga of several tons of smuggled vegetables that have tested positive for salmonella and heavy metals. Tiu Laurel said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has not authorized any white onion imports recently, aligning with […]
A dozen KADIWA ng Pangulo (KNP) centers across Metro Manila and nearby provinces will officially kick off the expanded pilot of the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program, offering affordable rice at just P20 per kilo to provide relief to millions of poor Filipinos. Originally launched on May 1 in Cebu City, the program was initially […]
The Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) has severely weakened the National Food Authority’s (NFA) ability to stabilize rice prices and supply, stripping it of key regulatory powers—including the authority to sell rice directly to the public. Once a crucial player in controlling market prices through timely imports and public sales, the NFA is now reduced to […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. welcomed the improved first-quarter performance of the farm sector, expressing confidence that favorable weather conditions and the intensified interventions of the Department of Agriculture (DA) will lead to better incomes for farmers and fisherfolk. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a 1.9 percent growth in the value of agriculture and […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fast-track the implementation of key programs designed to support and reward Filipino farmers and fisherfolk for their hard work that ensures the country’s food security. In a message marking Farmers and Fisherfolk Month this May, Tiu Laurel underscored the indispensable role of […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed “disappointment” over Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks questioning the quality of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA), which is to be sold at P20 per kilo. “With all due respect to the Vice President, the Department of Agriculture (DA) family is deeply hurt by her suggestion that […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. instructed the National Food Authority (NFA) to begin repositioning rice stocks to the Visayas in preparation for the launch of the P20-per-kilo rice program. “It will take several weeks to transfer tens even hundreds of thousands of 50-kilo bags of rice from NFA warehouses, particularly from Mindoro, to various […]
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), under the Department of Agriculture (DA), met its rice mechanization targets in 2024, delivering thousands of machines and expanding its support programs for farmers, cooperatives, and local government units (LGUs). Backed by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)—a key provision under the Rice Tariffication Law of […]
The National Food Authority (NFA) has built up a buffer stock equivalent to 7.17 million 50-kilogram bags of milled rice—a volume enough to feed all Filipino for nine days. This is the agency’s highest inventory level since the end of 2020, helped by higher palay buying price that averaged P27 a kilo last year and […]