In a groundbreaking move, the municipality of San Mateo has passed an ordinance aimed at ensuring the availability of safer, higher-quality rice for its residents. The ordinance, approved by the local government and supported by the Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), sets a precedent for the country in rice quality assurance.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will implement a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork in wet markets across the National Capital Region starting 10 March. The new price cap will set pork liempo at P380 per kilogram, kasim and pigue at P350 per kilogram, and "sabit ulo" (the price traders pass to retailers) at P300 per kilogram.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the importation ban on poultry products from France while imposing a temporary ban on imports from the US states of Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared Camarines Norte free from avian influenza (AI), following effective containment measures and surveillance. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed the resolution of the outbreak, which began last December when the H5N2 strain of AI was detected on a backyard duck farm in Talisay.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led an inspection on Monday of one-and-a-half dozen container vans suspected of being loaded with hundreds of tons of frozen fish, but was declared by importers as processed plant-based commodities. A earlier spot check conducted by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Customs on two of the 19 40-foot container vans revealed boxes of frozen mackerels locally known as tamban, and frozen round scad-locally known as galunggong rather than the frozen fried taro sticks, sweet potato balls, and assorted food products from China, as declared in the shipping manifest.
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. said Thursday, March 11, it is scrapping three planned electric vehicle models for North America in a dramatic strategy reset that could saddle the Japanese automaker with losses of up to JPU2.5 trillion (around USD16–billion).
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has warned domestic shipping lines against imposing steep passenger fare hikes, signaling tighter oversight from regulators led by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is plotting a major leap into the regional cruise tourism market with plans to build a dedicated cruise ship terminal worth about P10 billion, an investment that also coincides with renewed shipbuilding activity and expanding container operations in the port hub.
Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco will remain in the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but will step down as head of the Department of Tourism to become Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Malacañang said tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso will serve as officer in charge of the agency until a new tourism secretary is appointed. The Palace did not immediately explain the leadership change, and it remains unclear whether recent criticism surrounding the tourism department’s promotional campaign had any bearing on Frasco’s reassignment. Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos expressed his appreciation for Frasco’s leadership at the tourism department.