Agriculture
Rice imports rise 20% over six months; DA vows measures to protect local farmers
The Philippines imported 2.75 million metric tons of rice in the first six months of 2026, a 20.1 percent increase from the 2.29 million MT recorded in the same period last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday in Quezon City.
Subic flour miller bares P2.4 billion expansion plan
Mabuhay Interflour Mill Inc. (MIMI) is planning a P2.4 billion upgrade of its flour milling facility at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone with a public consultation scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026.
NGO urges greater government support for GM crops
The non-profit International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is calling on the government to strengthen support for genetically modified (GM) crops, saying this will boost harvests and crop quality across the country.
Cheaper rice helps case for extending price cap, DA chief says
Lower food prices, particularly rice, helped cool inflation in June, prompting Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. to push for the extension of the government's price cap on imported rice while sustaining efforts to keep food supplies ample and markets stable.
World Bank-funded agri infrastructure gets DA green light
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has cleared over P2.06 billion worth of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) and bridges for construction across six provinces, aimed at cutting logistics costs and helping farmers and fisherfolk reach markets more easily.
