Agriculture
DA declares food security emergency over high rice prices
The Department of Agriculture (DA) declared a food security emergency on Monday that allowed the National Food Authority (NFA) to release buffer stocks for public sale. The declaration, signed by DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., comes in the wake of persistent price increases that have not aligned with global market trends or previous tariff reductions.
South Korea donates 100,000 bags of rice
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has received a donation of 100,000 bags of rice from South Korea to aid communities affected by Tropical Storm (TS) Kristine. The ceremonial distribution, led by DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., took place in Laurel, Batangas, with rice being allocated to regions including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol.
Tobacco summit tackles growing threat of illicit trade
Over 200 key stakeholders, including top government officials, industry leaders, and experts, gathered from 27 to 28 January for the Second International Tobacco Summit in Quezon City, focused on combating the rising illicit tobacco trade in the Philippines.
Farmer indemnity payments now cashless
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), in collaboration with GCash, has launched a new program aimed at improving the speed, security, and efficiency of indemnity payments to insured farmers. Announced on Sunday, the partnership will streamline PCIC's payout system, directly depositing indemnities into farmers' GCash wallet accounts in real-time, making the process faster and more accessible.
Vietnam rice exports start strong; 2025 outlook dim
Vietnam’s rice exports had a strong start in 2025, with shipments in the first half of January increasing by 38 percent to 270,000 metric tons.
