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.
The Philippines and Egypt are exploring new avenues for trade and investment cooperation, with discussions ranging from textile manufacturing opportunities using premium Egyptian cotton to the possible revival of a bilateral economic committee aimed at deepening commercial ties.
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced mixed price adjustments for fuel this week. Gasoline may drop by as much as P1.70 per liter or rise by up to P0.30 per liter.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed that nine companies have passed the initial evaluation for offshore wind projects under the fifth Green Energy Auction (GEA5), down from more than 20 original applicants.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed growing calls to amend Joint Administrative Order No. 2008-1, which limits approved bioethanol raw materials to only sugarcane and molasses, to include corn as an additional feedstock. The proposal remains under review and awaits final decision from the National Biofuels Board, with officials noting the move is being reconsidered amid an ongoing fuel crisis.