The Department of Agriculture (DA) will build cheaper farm-to-market roads (FMR) once it formally assumes responsibility of the program starting next year, with the agency introducing new methods to help cut costs. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the government will save at least 20...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will investigate the possible involvement of its own officials in several non-existent farm-to-market road (FMR) projects discovered in Mindanao. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said there is a strong possibility that some officials are involved in...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) would build 300 more rice mills in the next three years, as the government seeks to reverse post-harvest losses by improving the rice sector’s drying capacity. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said his agency has earmarked ₱3.3 billion until 2028 to...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stood firm on its decision not to import sugar for the current milling season in a bid to stabilize sugar prices that have been weighed down by market uncertainty. In a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 15, the DA reiterated the government policy earlier issued by...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is willing to take over the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) following the discovery of non-existent and overpriced projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways ' (DPWH) watch. Responding to the challenge from the Senate Committee on...
The newly signed law creating an annual ₱20-billion fund to strengthen the competitiveness of the local livestock and poultry sectors is expected to curb the soaring prices of pork, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel. Three days before it was expected to lapse into law,...
Top-ranking agriculture officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to strengthen trade within the region, as most of the bloc’s members are still awaiting progress on their respective deals with the United States (US) concerning reciprocal tariffs. This agreement...
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel is casting doubt on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) projection that inflation likely quickened in September due to higher rice prices, maintaining that retail prices of the staple remain stable. The BSP estimated that last month’s inflation rate...
The agricultural ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are looking to secure additional exemptions on certain agricultural products facing reciprocal tariffs from the United States (US), according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel. Tiu Laurel, appointed as...
The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) ongoing audit into farm-to-market roads (FMRs) has now found nine projects in Mindanao that are non-existent, with a combined value of approximately ₱125 million. Following the initial discovery of three “ghost” projects on Monday, Agriculture Secretary...
The proposed extension of the 60-day suspension on rice imports and increase in rice tariffs has been approved by President Marcos, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Wednesday, Sept. 24, that the President has agreed to extend the import...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is proposing the extension of the two-month suspension on rice imports imposed earlier this month by up to 30 days, buoyed by improvements in the domestic prices of palay or unmilled rice. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said he is inclined to recommend...
