Tag: Philippines Agriculture

  • Government Buying Half of Farmers’ Rice Could Lower Prices to PHP20 per kg, Says Sotto

    MANILA – Senatorial hopeful Vicente Sotto III from Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas remains optimistic about reducing rice prices to PHP20 per kilogram. Speaking at a media event in Hotel Savano, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, Sotto emphasized that this goal is within reach if the government commits to purchasing 50 percent of the…

  • April Approval Sought for Commercial ASF Vaccines in Philippines

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines is aiming to obtain approval for the commercial distribution of AVAC live vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) by April. This initiative follows the successful implementation of a government-controlled vaccination program that began in August 2024 in Lobo, Batangas, targeting healthy pigs. DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de…

  • Former DILG Secretary Advocates for Broader Farmer Assistance and Food Security Initiatives

    In a recent press briefing held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Benhur Abalos, the former secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), strongly advocated for a more comprehensive support system for farmers. Speaking at the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas event on February 15, 2025, Abalos emphasized the importance of…

  • NFA Prepares for Rice Distribution Amid Food Security Emergency

    The National Food Authority (NFA) has announced its readiness to distribute rice stocks as part of the upcoming food security emergency declaration. This statement was made on Monday, with the official declaration expected to be formalized by the Department of Agriculture on February 4, following the receipt of a resolution from the National Price Coordinating…

  • Sugar Regulatory Administration Halts Sugar Import Order Amid Industry Concerns

    In Bacolod City, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has put a temporary hold on Sugar Order No. 6, which outlines the rules for importing specific types of sugar and sugar confectionery. This decision comes after feedback from industry stakeholders. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona announced the suspension, stating it would remain in effect while further…

  • Affordable Rice Options to Hit Supermarket Shelves by Mid-February

    In a move to make rice more accessible to the public, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the Kadiwa ng Pangulo’s Rice for All (RFA) program will soon be available in supermarkets starting the second week of February. This initiative aims to offer a variety of rice at reduced prices, including RFA 5,…

  • Agriculture Secretary Proposes ‘Hybrid’ Tariff on Rice to Stabilize Prices

    In a bid to manage the escalating cost of rice, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. announced his intention to introduce a ‘hybrid’ tariff system. Speaking at a press briefing in Manila, Tiu-Laurel explained that this new approach would involve varying tariffs based on the type and quality of rice. He suggested maintaining a 15 percent…

  • NFA Confident in Meeting 2025 Rice Buffer Stock Goals

    The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to increase its procurement of palay from local farmers in 2025, aiming to elevate the national rice buffer stock from a nine-day to a fifteen-day supply. This move is part of a broader strategy to ensure sufficient reserves for emergency and disaster relief efforts across the country. NFA…

  • 6,125 Farmers in Negros Occidental Liberated from Agrarian Debts

    In a significant move to alleviate the financial burdens of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has successfully freed 6,125 farmers in Negros Occidental from debts totaling PHP816.688 million. This relief was facilitated under the Republic Act 11953, known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand…

  • Cordillera’s DA Encourages Pig Farmers to Participate in ASF Vaccine Trials

    In Baguio City, the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) is calling on local hog farmers to join the trial phase of a vaccine aimed at combating African swine fever (ASF). Dr. Kevin Luna, who leads the regulatory efforts at the DA-CAR’s Livestock Division, announced that the Bureau of Animal Industry has…