Agriculture

The Philippines and Japan have broadened their agricultural cooperation to include fisheries, upgrading a 2023 agreement through an enhanced Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) signed during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Japan. Signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Japanese Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki, the expanded pact aims to speed up technology transfer, modernize both sectors, and strengthen food security amid climate risks, higher production costs, and rising food demand.

The Philippines has dispatched its first-ever commercial batch of fresh Carabao mangoes to Toronto, Canada, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The Philippines entered May with larger rice and corn inventories, providing a cushion against supply disruptions and helping ease concerns over food availability as the country moves toward the next harvest cycle.

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday (DA) said that the construction of major farm‑to‑market roads (FMR) under its program is set to begin by August this year, with bidding activities scheduled from June to July. In a briefing in Quezon City, DA assistant secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa, who also chairs the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for large FMR projects, said preparations are already underway, including a pre‑procurement conference scheduled soon.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded market monitoring nationwide to strictly enforce the P50 per kilogram price ceiling for imported rice with 5 percent broken grains. In a statement Tuesday, the agency reported that compliance has steadily improved since the measure took effect, reaching 47.42 percent in the latest round of simultaneous inspections across Metro Manila and other regions. The increase is credited to more frequent checks and stronger presence of law enforcement in public markets.