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...
The Philippines is turning to Cambodia to help meet the demand of a growing population, as part of the government’s push to strengthen ties with the Southeast Asian country, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel. In a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 10, Tiu Laurel said the country...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to launch a digital platform that will consolidate all critical data across the agriculture sector to ensure data-driven decision-making and management of the country’s food supply chain. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the agency’s...
The value of the country’s agriculture and fisheries output grew by 5.7 percent in the second quarter of the year as crops and poultry production expanded due to favorable weather conditions—a development that augurs well for economic growth. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)...
The local agriculture industry may soon see stronger trade ties with Canada, as its agriculture and agri-food minister expressed confidence in deepening the North American country ’s trade relationship with the Philippines. Despite tariff uncertainties in the United States (US), Heath...
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel is pushing for the amendment of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act as a measure to revitalize the country’s “underperforming” coconut industry. Enacted into law in 2021, as embodied under Republic Act (RA) No. 11524, the coco trust fund...
