The grant agreement was signed on February 16, 2026 by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and JICA Chief Representative Takashi Baba. The project will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the National Food Authority (NFA).

The facility will rise in Cauayan City, one of the top three rice-producing municipalities in Isabela. It will be equipped with high-capacity mechanical grain dryers, a multi-stage rice mill, and grain silos designed to handle larger procurement volumes more efficiently.

Government studies show that around 16 percent of rice production is lost due to poor post-harvest handling, with drying and milling accounting for the biggest share. Limited access to modern facilities in Cauayan has constrained farmers’ earnings and reduced the NFA’s ability to purchase palay during peak harvest seasons.

“This modern RPS will strengthen NFA’s mandate to maintain adequate rice buffer stocks, while reducing postharvest losses and improving grain quality. Ultimately, the grant aims to contribute to a food-secure and resilient Philippines, with empowered and prosperous farmers,” Baba said.

Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel said the investment will improve NFA operations and farmer incomes.

“We are strengthening NFA’s capacity to handle larger volumes of rice, reduce post-harvest losses, improve milling recovery, and deliver higher quality rice to our people,” he said.

He added that the grant “reinforces our shared goal of strengthening the Philippine agricultural sector and demonstrates the strong and long-term relationship between the Philippines and Japan.”

The Philippine government will provide counterpart funding for the construction of a warehouse and other necessary infrastructure, utilities, and personnel.

At least 5,000 rice farmers in Cauayan and nearby towns are expected to benefit from expanded participation in NFA procurement programs. With increased drying and milling capacity, the agency will be able to buy more palay at fair prices during harvest, offering farmers a more reliable institutional buyer.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the agency remains committed to transparency and the prompt completion of the Rice Processing System for the benefit of farmers and consumers in Isabela.

Beyond reducing losses, the new processing hub is expected to strengthen year-round buffer stocks, reduce reliance on private drying and milling services, and help stabilize rice supply, particularly during lean months.

In a news release dated January 29, Tiu Laurel said the visiting delegation expressed strong interest in supplying rice to the Philippines, citing surplus production in Pakistan. While welcoming the offer, the agriculture chief stressed that any imports would be carefully calibrated to domestic needs as the country continues to work toward rice self-sufficiency.

“The Philippines welcomes Pakistani rice; but we will limit imports strictly to what the country needs,” Tiu Laurel said. “We will not over-import; food security comes first.”

The Philippines remains one of the world’s largest rice importers, relying on overseas suppliers to plug supply gaps caused by weather disruptions, rising demand, and structural challenges in the farm sector.

Tiu Laurel said the government continues to require reliable international partners while it strengthens local production.

Pakistan’s proposal comes as Manila reviews its sourcing strategy to avoid overdependence on a single supplier.

The agriculture secretary underscored that rice imports would remain a supplement, not a substitute, to domestic output.

Beyond rice, the talks explored two-way trade opportunities in both agricultural and non-agricultural products. Tiu Laurel said Pakistan has requirements for Indian buffalo meat, while expressing openness to importing more Philippine products. These include coconuts, seaweeds, fish, and other agricultural commodities where the Philippines has a competitive edge.

“This is about widening our engagement with countries that are not necessarily our near neighbors, in the spirit of world trade and cooperation,” Tiu Laurel said. “Countries need to help each other by exchanging products to strengthen food security on both sides.”

The Department of Agriculture views such partnerships as part of a broader strategy to stabilize supply chains amid global market volatility, climate risks, and geopolitical uncertainty. By balancing imports with domestic production goals, the government aims to protect consumers from price spikes while safeguarding the livelihood of Filipino farmers.

Any prospective rice imports from Pakistan would still be subject to existing regulatory, sanitary, and quality requirements, the department said, as negotiations and technical discussions continue.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday (Jan. 28) that last year’s expansion was the highest recorded in the past five years, underscoring both the sector’s resilience and its continuing exposure to climate risks.

While crops remain the backbone of agriculture, it was poultry that delivered the strongest and most consistent gains.

In the fourth quarter alone, poultry output jumped 8.9 percent to ₱78.2 billion, while full-year production rose 9.1 percent to ₱304.7 billion, with gains across nearly all commodities except duck eggs. Poultry now accounts for around 16 percent of total agricultural output, solidifying its role as a key growth engine for the sector.

The robust poultry performance provided a crucial buffer as crops faltered under unfavorable weather.

Crop production took the hardest hit toward the end of the year. In the fourth quarter, the value of crops—including rice and corn—fell 2.5 percent to ₱274.3 billion, as weather disturbances disrupted harvests.

For the full year, however, crop output still managed a 2.8 percent increase to ₱986.8 billion, making up 56 percent of total agricultural production.

The figures highlight a long-standing vulnerability: crops remain both the foundation of Philippine agriculture and its most exposed segment when climate shocks intensify.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government is moving to address this structural weakness.

“We’re now laying the groundwork for a smarter, climate-resilient agriculture,” he said, pointing to investments in cold storage, drying facilities, silos, upgraded rice processing systems, greenhouses, and smart irrigation.

The aim, he said, is to cushion the impact of extreme weather, stabilize supply, and help smooth food prices for both producers and consumers.

Elsewhere in the sector, performance was mixed.

Livestock production rose 1 percent in the fourth quarter to ₱68.4 billion, largely driven by swine, but declined 2.3 percent for the full year to ₱246.4 billion, reflecting lingering structural challenges. Still, the hog subsector posted 1.6 percent growth in the fourth quarter—the first expansion since the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak—signaling a sustained recovery.

Fisheries posted a 4 percent increase in the fourth quarter to ₱66.1 billion, but ended the year slightly lower at ₱233.7 billion, down 0.3 percent.

Overall, the data show an agricultural sector that is still growing, but with its trajectory increasingly shaped by climate volatility. Poultry’s strong performance is helping carry the load for now, but without faster adaptation, broader gains—especially in crops—remain vulnerable to the next round of weather disruptions.

In Memorandum Order No. 75, series of 2025, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. directed the immediate implementation of emergency measures to prevent the entry of the ASF virus into the Philippines.

The order, dated December 4, 2025, covers all domestic and wild pigs, their products and by-products, including pork meat, pig skin, and semen originating from Spain, in line with the World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code on ASF.

The move follows an official report from Spanish authorities to the World Organisation for Animal Health on an ASF outbreak affecting wild pigs in Sabadel, Valles Occidental, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain, confirmed on 26 November 2025.

The DA cited its legal mandate under Executive Order No. 292 and the Charter of the Bureau of Animal Industry to block animal products from countries with dangerous communicable animal diseases.

All existing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSICs) for domestic and wild pigs and their products from Spain are automatically revoked under the order.

Shipments already in transit will either be released or returned to origin depending on their production dates and the timing of loading or acceptance at port, while all shipments loaded after the effectivity of the order will be sent back to origin.

Citing the high resistance and prolonged survivability of the ASF virus in frozen meat, the DA also prohibited the importation of frozen pork shipments from Spain and ruled out a “test and release” protocol.

The order further suspends the processing and issuance of SPS import clearances for covered commodities and directs veterinary quarantine officers at all major ports to stop and confiscate affected shipments, effective immediately until revoked in writing.

In a news release, the department said the new facility will mass-produce Australian Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), a high-value species prized for its rapid growth, robust hardiness, and strong market demand.

Officials said the project advances both the country’s food security agenda and its drive to create sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., in remarks delivered by DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa, said the initiative shows what coordinated action across sectors can achieve.

“Built through the partnership of Farm Fresh Early Catch Inc., Da Shin Biotech, and the DA-BFAR, this nursery shows that when government, private innovators, and fisherfolk come together, progress stops being a dream — it becomes our shared reality,” he said.

Tiu Laurel stressed that crayfish farming “opens new doors for our fisherfolk — bringing in more income, more livelihood, and more food on our tables,” adding that each pond must also “nurture care, discipline, and respect for the balance of our ecosystems.” He noted that BFAR has set strict guidelines to protect native aquatic life.

Located in Candaba — long known for its freshwater resources — the 1,280-square-meter nursery houses 16 tanks capable of producing 48,000 fry every two weeks. The facility also pioneers water-recycling technology in Philippine crayfish nurseries, reducing wastewater and conserving freshwater in an industry often criticized for its consumption footprint.

The nursery will supply Farm Fresh’s existing three-hectare grow-out ponds, which currently yield 30 tons of market-size crayfish annually, and will support partner growers as the industry scales.

Starting 2026, Farm Fresh plans a massive rollout of grow-out operations: 1,500 hectares in Luzon, 750 hectares each in the Visayas and Mindanao. Once fully operational, these sites are projected to produce more than 1,200 tons of crayfish every six months — volumes that would position the Philippines as a serious contender in regional and global markets.

Crayfish offer a protein source that is nutrient-rich, low-impact, and requires minimal feed. The project is expected to create more than 3,000 direct jobs and spur new enterprises across farming communities.

The launch of the nursery kicks off a world-class, sustainable crayfish industry that aims to put the Philippines firmly on the global aquaculture map.

Tiu Laurel said the Executive Order formalizing the extension of the import suspension will be released on Monday.

“With the import ban having little impact on retail prices and supply of rice but a significant effect on the farmgate price of palay, President Marcos deemed it necessary to extend the suspension for two more months,” Tiu Laurel said.

The president initially suspended rice imports for two months, until October 31, to counter the sharp decline in palay prices ahead of the wet harvest season. While the measure briefly lifted prices, the gains tapered off as the suspension neared its expiry.

Tiu Laurel said that with harvests still ongoing in several regions, the extended import ban—together with the rollout of the Sagip Saka program and the establishment of a floor price for palay—should help support struggling rice farmers.

In an earlier Senate hearing, the DA chief noted that over-importation and poor-quality harvests in some areas, worsened by bad weather, had depressed farmgate prices.

Department of Agriculture projections show that rice availability will remain adequate even under a 120-day import suspension.

Conservative estimates place supply at 89 days by year-end, while optimistic scenarios project up to 92 days, considering 122.7kg/annum the projected per capita consumption compared with just 58 days’ worth of stocks at the end of 2024.

Tiu Laurel said he recommended the extension to the president as “a necessary measure to provide sustained support to local producers, maintain market stability, and allow a more comprehensive assessment of the policy’s effects.”

Despite the suspension, retail rice prices have remained broadly stable, according to the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS). The agency projects that by November, well-milled rice will average around P42 per kilo, while regular-milled rice will hover near P40.

On October 29, DTI officials conducted an inspection in Makati City, checking the prices and supply levels of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) such as candles and bottled water, items in high demand during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.

The inspection revealed that all 224 stock-keeping units (SKUs) of monitored goods were within the DTI’s suggested retail price (SRP), reflecting stable market conditions.

DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque emphasized that the activity underscores the agency’s ongoing commitment to consumer protection and market stability.

“We commend our retailers for upholding fair prices in the interest and welfare of our consumers. Rest assured that the DTI will continue to diligently monitor the markets to keep prices affordable while also ensuring that our businesses remain sustainable and profitable, so that it will be a win-win for all,” Secretary Roque said.

Since the start of October, the DTI has inspected 19 flower shops to ensure compliance with SRPs and to encourage vendors to maintain reasonable pricing amid increased demand.

As Chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), Secretary Roque also joined Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in monitoring wet markets, checking the prices of rice, meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables across 10 market stalls.

These activities form part of the DTI–DA joint efforts to safeguard price stability and supply adequacy of essential commodities nationwide. To date, both agencies have conducted 23 joint market monitoring operations this year, reinforcing their shared goal of keeping consumer goods affordable while supporting fair and responsible business practices.

The Agreement officially took effect on September 15, 2025, following years of negotiations among WTO members. The Philippines had deposited its instrument of acceptance at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in February 2024.

As an archipelagic nation with more than 115 million people—millions of whom rely on fisheries for both food and livelihood—the Philippines said the deal is a major step toward protecting the oceans while ensuring food security and safeguarding the lives of fisherfolk, especially those in small coastal communities.

To help countries like the Philippines carry out their commitments, the WTO has created a Fisheries Subsidies Fund. The fund offers grants of up to US$50,000 for small projects and US$300,000 for larger initiatives, providing technical assistance and capacity-building support. Manila expects this mechanism will help strengthen sustainable coastal management and deliver real benefits to rural fishing communities across the archipelago.

Ambassador Manuel A.J. Teehankee, the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the WTO, hailed the milestone: “Today’s entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies marks a collective victory for global sustainability and for millions of fisherfolk whose lives and livelihoods depend on healthy oceans. As the WTO’s first sustainability-focused agreement, it demonstrates that trade rules can serve as powerful tools for environmental protection and development.”

“For the Philippines, this Agreement is not only about protecting our marine biodiversity, but also about ensuring food security and building resilient coastal communities. We welcome the establishment of the Fisheries Fund, which will help developing countries like ours translate commitments into concrete action. The Philippines stands ready to work with WTO members and partners to ensure that this Agreement delivers real and lasting benefits for our people and our planet,” he added.

The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with other WTO members to implement the agreement, manage ocean resources sustainably, and uphold its role as steward of one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems.

For more information, visit wtopm.dfa.gov.ph.

According to a Department of Agriculture news release, the meeting took place during the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Cambodia and focused on deepening collaboration in agricultural trade, food security, and market access for farm products.

Minister Dith expressed optimism that Cambodia’s agricultural exports to the Philippines, particularly its premium aromatic rice, would see an uptick, citing growing demand in Manila and other urban areas.

Secretary Tiu Laurel, for his part, acknowledged that Cambodian products such as rice, fish, meat, and vegetables could help meet the needs of the Philippines’ expanding population. He added that the Philippines is preparing to welcome more Cambodian agricultural goods into its domestic market, a move expected to enhance bilateral trade and food supply resilience.

“This bilateral meeting is a step forward to flesh out the agreement signed earlier this year by the Philippines and Cambodia on agricultural trade, cooperation, and knowledge transfer,” said Tiu Laurel.

The talks concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, ensure mutual food security, and promote sustainable trade between their countries.

In February, the Philippines and Cambodia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agricultural and Agribusiness Cooperation during the state visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to Manila.

The agreement aims to boost investments in Cambodia’s agriculture sector, especially rice production, and explore trade opportunities in vegetables and meat, while enhancing technical exchange and training.

As part of the ongoing collaboration, Secretary Tiu Laurel and Minister Dith visited the Khmer Food Group and the Tram Bok Modern Agricultural Community to observe best practices in vegetable farming and agri-innovation.

Set to roll out in 2026, the project aims to benefit 750,000 small farmers and fisherfolk by the time it wraps up in 2030, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.

“The World Bank plans to leverage its loan to mobilize between $300 million and $500 million in climate protection for farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-based MSMEs,” he said. “This will allow our producers to bounce back faster after climate shocks and resume production with minimal delay.”

Under the impending loan arrangement, the Department of Finance will serve as borrower, while the DA will implement the project. The program will utilize a co-insurance pool, where both public and private insurers share the risk of climate-triggered disasters such as droughts and floods.

The project will merge the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.’s experience in agricultural insurance with the capital and technical know-how of private insurers, including the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines.

“A stronger insurance framework reduces the risk in agricultural lending,” Tiu Laurel said. “This encourages banks to provide more credit, helping farmers invest in technology, adopt climate-smart practices, and boost productivity.”

The co-insurance pool aligns with vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to modernize agriculture and establish a food-secure Philippines.

“When our farmers are better protected, our food supply becomes more stable,” Tiu Laurel added. “And that is critical in our mission to feed every Filipino family.”