Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza Archives - ��ý Online

Tech touted as solution to ageing-farmer crisis, but farms can’t thrive without reforms

��ý — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 16:02:04 +0000

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

DENNIS IVAN CHAVEZ, a 25-year-old computer engineering graduate from Mindanao State University’s Iligan Institute of Technology, didn’t know he would one day co-found FrescoGreenovations, an agriculture-based startup that provides automation services for farms and gardens.

“I come from a family of Igorot farmers and traders, but as time went on, they slowly moved away from farming and pursued other careers,” he told ��ý.

When the pandemic hit, the online gaming and tech enthusiast had a chance to try other things that he said weren’t taught in his university subjects, one of which was hydroponics.

“The harvest gave me a lot of dopamine. I turned to my high school classmates who took up agriculture and got them onboard We supplied a few food businesses and households,” he said.

FrescoGreenovations in January registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, over two years after it was chosen to be part of a Department of Agriculture (DA) program for aspiring farmers.

“We pivoted to becoming an agritech startup after we received the funds. It was a rollercoaster of events after that, a lot of ups and downs,” according to Mr. Chavez, who was 21 years old when he and his teammates received a grant of P100,000 from the government.

The startup, now run by seven people including licensed agriculturists and computer engineers, is currently working with a private school that seeks to build a campus-based greenhouse farm equipped with sensors, actuators, and other farm management systems.

“The growing global interest in farming, with its related impact on food security, climate change, population growth, and technological innovation, shifts the concept from traditional labor-intensive practices to agritech entrepreneurship,” Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum told ��ý.

“This gives young Filipinos the opportunity to engage in farming innovations, build startups, and earn more competitively,” he said, noting that artificial intelligence (AI)-driven decision tools, drones, sensors, and satellite data are helping attract young people to farming.

“Even during the pandemic, there was explosive interest in urban and vertical farming,” he said.

In his fourth address to Congress, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. urged the young to consider agriculture-related careers, citing state support for agrarian reform beneficiaries, including the distribution of land titles.

“Agriculture courses, programs, and scholarships are awaiting the youth, so that agriculture will be their source of livelihood in the future, and they can continue this honorable livelihood of their parents,” he said.

While the Philippines is making important strides in integrating climate-smart agriculture in the education system, with universities like the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños and Tarlac Agricultural University offering specialized courses on sustainable agriculture and agri technology, “much more needs to be done to reframe agriculture as a modern, tech-driven sector — not a fallback career,” Manila Business Club (MBC) Executive Director Rafael ASG Ongpin said in an interview.

He said embedding agriculture and sustainability concepts into the K-12 curriculum, coupled with training teachers, is essential to cultivate a generation open to the opportunities and challenges of climate-smart agriculture.

“It is also critical for educational institutions to partner with private sector innovators who can offer internships and hands-on experience,” he added.

“Otherwise, we’ll continue losing young talent to urban jobs. The goal is to make farming attractive, viable, and future-ready.”

The average age of Filipino rice farmers is 56 and climbing. Government data indicate that agriculture and forestry lost almost 950,000 jobs in February mainly due to typhoons that devastated farmland.

Citing the Food and Agriculture Organization, a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) report by economist Roehlano M. Briones published in December 2021 estimated the country’s arable land at 12.44 million hectares.

PIDS found declining productivity and structural inefficiencies, with farm sizes shrinking.

The government through the DA and Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has been stepping up efforts to promote climate-smart and precision technologies in agriculture, which recently sustained P3 billion in losses after monsoon rains and three storms hit the country in late July.

For its part, the DoST has been providing farmers with knowledge and tools on pest identification that can help minimize infestations and damage to crops and seed grants to agri-based startups, according to Mr. Solidum.

He noted that its AI-powered decision support system for farmers, known as Project SarAI (Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry) co-developed with UP Los Baños will be rolled out nationwide through its regional offices “very soon,” especially in areas frequently affected by extreme weather.

The project combines remote sensing, crop modeling, and localized weather data to provide timely advisories for farmers and help them decide when to irrigate, plant, or harvest.

“Climate change has made farming more unpredictable and risky, with extreme weather events, shifting rainfall patterns, and soil degradation affecting yields,” Mr. Solidum noted.

He cited the need for tech-driven farming — from smart irrigation systems that conserve water to AI-based weather and crop modeling that helps reduce risk.

“With precision agriculture, farmers can maximize productivity while minimizing inputs, waste, and environmental impact, which are crucial in adapting to a changing climate,” he said.

Among the beneficiaries of the DoST’s programs is agriculture-based startup GreenVisionsPh (formerly Waste4Good), which initially found itself thriving in transforming food waste into fertilizer.

“Over time, as we listened more deeply to farmers, we realized that waste was only one part of a much broader challenge. There was also a glaring gap in farming precision and sustainability,” according to its Chief Executive Officer and Founder Lorilyn P. Daquioag.

She cited the case of a client who, despite generating approximately P70 million annually from a 40-hectare banana farm, had struggled with “alarmingly high” production costs of up to P45.5 million.

With no baseline data, no regular soil tests, and no monitoring systems, the client’s approach had been largely based on guesswork, a situation that reflects the reality in many farms, according to Ms. Daquioag.

“That realization became our turning point. It led us to pivot into what is now GreenVisionsPh, which operates like a “hospital for farms” — bringing diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment directly to the field in real time,” she said.

The startup has an AI-powered, offline-capable device that provides soil and disease assessments in five minutes, helping small-scale banana growers in Mindanao save up to 50% on inputs.

The device is complemented by its AIMS (Agricultural Intelligence & Monitoring System) for real-time data tracking, and microbial treatments that resulted in 25% faster crop growth, 52% higher yields, and up to 93% healing efficiency against Fusarium Wilt TR4 (Panama disease) in trials.

“There’s a growing space for agri-tech startups like GreenVisionsPh, especially now that food security, climate change, and farm sustainability are top concerns,” Ms. Daquioag said, noting that farmers and agri-stakeholders are actively looking for solutions that are science-based, scalable, and grounded in real field experience.

“As a startup, we’re able to move fast, stay close to our users, and build tech that directly responds to what farmers actually need,” she said.

However, Ms. Daquoiag noted challenges for agri-tech startups like limited funding for research and development and fragmented distribution channels.

“Some farmers are also reluctant to try unfamiliar solutions, especially when their livelihood is at stake,” she said.

“On top of that, infrastructure — like poor internet in rural areas — makes digital adoption slower than it should be,” she added.

She said climate change, food insecurity, and rising input costs are forcing the industry to rethink the way it practices farming, opening the door for precision technologies and sustainability-focused tools.

Mr. Chavez, the hydroponic farmer, said the lack of large data banks is hindering AI-driven agriculture startups.

“To have reliable AI, we need big data, large data banks which we do not have. We haven’t even completed our digital transformation,” he said.

“These systems also allow ease of aggregating data. The more data we feed into the system, the better it gets.”

Mr. Ongpin of MBC said the “promise of technology is not enough without market reforms.”

“Farmers must be able to sell at fair prices,” he said, noting that many rice farmers sell palay at just P8–10 per kilo — barely enough to recover costs or break even — while retail rice sells for P35–40.

He cited persistent inefficiencies in the supply chain and unchecked imports that leave farmers with unsold stocks.

“Without fair market access and better infrastructure, no amount of technology will make farming appealing to the youth,” Mr. Ongpin said.

The MBC in 2024 launched an agriculture advocacy program to help raise farmer incomes and lower food prices.

The group currently provides training to farmer cooperatives, focusing on business management and market access.

It also assists in the professionalization of cooperatives and connects them with large businesses.

The MBC said the government should help farmers connect to stable markets, noting that technology adoption only makes sense when there is clear, consistent demand.

“The government must first put in place coherent trade and procurement policies that protect and prioritize local production,” it said. “Only then can efforts to scale climate-smart agriculture succeed.”

It also urged the government to address what it called a “trust gap,” as many farmers don’t benefit from support programs because of unclear targeting, limited transparency, and poor coordination across agencies.

“This undermines confidence in government initiatives and discourages the adoption of new practices and technology,” Mr. Ongpin said.

“Climate-smart agriculture will only succeed if the government lays the groundwork: functional infrastructure, clear and consistent rules, and strong support for farmers — while enabling the private sector to do what it does best: innovate, invest, and build competitive markets.”

Agri dep’t calls for more support for tuna industry

��ý — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:03:05 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday that the tuna industry needs more support in the wake of difficulties in obtaining sustainability certifications to export their products.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said on Wednesday�� that the tuna industry faces threats from “climate change, global sustainability mandates, labor issues, and the persistent threat of IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fi��󾱲Բ�.”

He called for science-based management of tuna stocks and stronger support for the industry.

A recent Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing operations to ply municipal waters has cast doubt on sustainability claims for Philippine tuna, the Philippine Association of Tuna Processors, Inc., has said.

Sustainability certificates enable the Philippines to access crucial export markets that require traceability and sustainability of fish resources, it noted.

Philippine tuna production rose to 494,047.02 MT in 2024 from 409,797.17 MT in 2023, the DA has reported.

Tuna exports rose 31% to $514.47 million in 2024, it added — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Jeepney, tricycle drivers added to P20 rice program

��ý — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:09:48 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will begin distributing P20-per-kilo rice to jeepney and tricycle drivers next month.

“We will initially roll out the P20 rice program for tricycle and jeepney drivers on Sept. 16 in five pilot areas,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said on Friday.

“We’re coordinating with Department of Transportation (DoTr ) which holds the TODA (Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association) database.”

One of the first pilot areas is Navotas City, which has 4,000 accredited drivers.

Initially launched for solo parents, senior citizens, 4Ps beneficiaries, and persons with disabilities, the P20 rice program has expanded to cover minimum wage earners, rice farmers, and now fisherfolk.

Next in line are beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom program and low-income staff of the Department of Education.

The DA said the phased rollout aims to gather critical data on rice consumption, logistics, and supply requirements.

“This will guide a planned nationwide expansion in 2026, which the President envisions will reach 15 million households,” it said.

The DA also plans to launch the P20 App on Oct. 1. The app is designed to facilitate efficient logistics, ensure transparency, and prevent abuse.

Mr. Laurel said rice stocks are sufficient with the National Food Authority planning to auction 1.2 million bags of rice in October.

The rice will first be offered in September to government relief agencies, and whatever is left will be offered to the private sector. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Rice importers expected to pass on costs if ordered to maintain reserves

��ý — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:09:04 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposal to require private importers to share the responsibility of maintaining the country’s rice reserves could send retail prices higher, a farmers’ group warned.

Federation of Free Farmers National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said importers will likely charge consumers for the expense of maintaining extra inventory.

“If importers shoulder the cost for importing the government share, they will try to recover that by raising their selling prices which may defeat the purpose of buffer stocks,” he said via Viber.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. floated a plan to Senators that private importers should take some responsibility for maintaining the national rice reserves, which are tapped during emergencies.

“If we aim to have a 20-day rice buffer stock, we’re thinking of a 50-50 split between the National Food Authority (NFA) and the private sector,” he said.

Under the proposed setup, rice imports will follow a controlled model similar to the sugar import program of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, under which only qualified importers are given import allocations.��

Importers, in turn, would be obligated to procure palay (unmilled rice) from farmers at fair prices to build up their reserves.

Mr. Montemayor noted that the local purchase requirement for importers has been questioned in the World Trade Organization as a restrictive policy.

In Singapore, importers are required to reserve 10% of their imports as government reserves, but noted that “50-50 appears too big.”

“Sugar has a different scheme. SRA issues sugar import quotas, arriving shipments are put into reserve and cannot be sold without SRA approval,” he said. “But the government does not acquire any of the imports.”

Marie Annette Galvez-Dacul, executive director of the UA&P Center for Food and Agri Business, said the proposal, among the DA’s suggested amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, is “a welcome shift from dependence on imports to strengthening supply chains.”

But she said, “execution will be the real test.”

“I agree with this arrangement where private rice importers are given quotas accordingly,” former agriculture secretary William Dar said.

“We should further support the idea that provinces with less rice production to maintain buffer stocks as well,” he added.��— Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Davao Gulf closed fishing season ends

��ý — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:01:57 +0000

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region XI has declared the end of the closed fishing season in the Davao Gulf.

The three-month ban, enforced between June 1 and Aug. 31, was authorized by Joint Administrative Order No. 02 series of 2014 issued by the departments of Agriculture (DA) and Interior and Local Government.

BFAR XI Regional Director Relly B. Garcia said the seasonal closure is designed to ensure the sustainability of the Davao Gulf’s fisheries and aquatic resources.

“This is a science-based approach to conservation. But�� we also recognize the economic impact on our coastal communities, which is why we mobilized a multi-agency support initiative to assist affected fisherfolk,” she said.

The closed season allows small pelagic fish species to regenerate. These include big-eyed scad (matambaka), mackerel (karabalyas), and round scad (galunggong).

During the closed season, the DA provided chickens and goats to fishing communities in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao City, with additional livestock distribution set pending availability.

The Region XI Department of Labor and Employment also allocated 200 slots for short-term employment under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Agri trade deficit in July widens to 4.9%

��ý — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:03:46 +0000

THE deficit in the agricultural goods trade in July rose 4.9% year on year to $929.78 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Agricultural exports in July rose 17.5% to $779.32 million, the PSA said in a report.

It said agricultural exports accounted for 31.3% of two-way agricultural trade, valued at $2.49 billion in July. Farm goods accounted for 10.6% of total exports.

Agricultural imports rose 10.3% year on year in July to $1.71 billion. Farm goods accounted for 15% of Philippine imports overall last month.

The $2.49 billion in agriculture trade in July was up 12.4% year on year. In June and July 2024, trade had risen 13.1% and 6.6%, respectively.

The PSA said exports of edible fruit and nuts, peel of citrus fruit or melons were valued at $246.19 million, accounting for 31.6% of agricultural exports.

Agricultural shipments to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July hit $63.72 million, with Malaysia accounting for $23.17 million or 36.4% of the total.

The Netherlands accounted for $119.59 million or 57.8% of Philippine agricultural exports to the European Union (EU). EU purchases totaled $206.88 million.

The PSA said cereals accounted for $319.67 million or 18.7% of all agricultural imports in July.

Indonesia accounted for $195.57 million or 30.0% of Philippine agricultural imports from ASEAN.

Within the EU, Spain was the Philippines’ top supplier of agricultural commodities, with imports valued at $39.34 million.

The top agricultural commodities imported from the EU were meat and edible meat offal, dairy produce, birds’ eggs, natural honey, edible products of animal origin, residues and waste from the food industries, and prepared animal fodder. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

NFA to auction 60,000 MT of ageing rice inventory

��ý — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:56:43 +0000

THE National Food Authority (NFA) will auction up to 60,000 metric tons (MT) of ageing rice inventory starting next month, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The auction is intended to free up warehouse space to facilitate the NFA’s domestic rice procurement operations in the face of a two-month rice import suspension, the DA said in a statement.

“We’re essentially hitting three birds with one stone: avoiding supply shortfalls, clearing space so NFA can buy more palay from local farmers, and preventing spoilage of ageing rice,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said.

Before the auction, government relief agencies would have the first call to buy the rice in September, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said.

NFA stocks are classified as ageing starting on the third month after milling.

The auction will feature floor prices ranging from P25.01 to P27.96 per kilo, depending on how long the rice has been stored.

The NFA’s current reserves amount to 450,000 MT, equivalent to 12 days of demand.

The auction will try to sell off roughly 1.2 million sacks of rice — about 13% of total reserves.

With the harvest approaching, the NFA said it is pursuing optimal solutions that ensure market stability, warehouse efficiency, and support for farmers. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Alfalfa trials to support dairy industry growth

��ý — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:53:41 +0000

A PROJECT funded by the Department of Science and Technolgy (DoST) is seeking to develop varieties of alfalfa for use as forage by the dairy industry.

The project, conducted by the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines is evaluating nine alfalfa varieties in Misamis Oriental, the DoST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development said in a statement.

While alfalfa is traditionally cultivated in temperate climates, Thailand has developed a tropical alfalfa crop, indicating the potential to grow such forage in the Philippines, it noted.

“If the project is successful in producing alfalfa, the country will have a good feed resource for dairy animals that can potentially reduce the cost to produce milk,” Synan S. Baguio, a participant in the project, was quoted as say-ing.

Alfalfa is deemed the “gold standard” for dairy animals due to its superior nutritional value.

Seven varieties were sourced from subtropical regions and two from temperate climates that include Flowcote 614 QL Lucerne, Hunter River Lucerne, Upper Murray Seeds “Silverado 9,” Flowcote 914 QL Lucerne, Flowcote Se-quel Lucerne, Upper Murray Seeds “Silverosa GT 7,” Upper Murray Seeds “Silverland,” Bulldog 505, and Bulldog 805. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Onion import requirement to be set in October

��ý — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:30:16 +0000

THE estimated onion import requirement for later in the year is about 50,000 metric tons (MT) for the red variety and 35,000 MT for the yellow variety, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

BPI Director Glenn Panganiban told ��ý that the imports will help avert shortages, adding that import volumes will be finalized in October.

The BPI estimates the shortfall in domestic production as equivalent to three months’ supply for red onions and five months’ supply for yellow onions, he noted.

The government earlier allowed yellow onion imports of 25,000 MT.

“Depending on the estimates of our regional offices and monitors, ’yung ating kailangan lang ang dapat i-import plus or minus buffer (the import requirement will be tied to the actual shortfall and may include a buffer amount),” Mr. Panganiban said.

The national red onion inventory was 49,750 MT as of Aug. 15, equivalent to about 86 days’ demand, indicating that stocks will be sufficient until mid-November.

As of Aug. 15, yellow onion stocks hit 1,142 MT, with shipments of 6,140 MT of yellow onions incoming. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Cooperatives seen key to boosting farmer financing

��ý — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:30:08 +0000

COOPERATIVES need to play a major role in improving farmers’ access to financing, according to the former head of the government’s economic planning agency.

At a Senate agriculture hearing, Cielito F. Habito, former director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA, currently the Department of Economy, Planning and Development), noted that only a third of the country’s 5.56 million farm households were cooperative members.

In Thailand, the equivalent rate is 95%, with 4,000 cooperatives having 6.81 million members, he noted.

Mr. Habito added that cooperatives can be formed from the National Irrigation Administration’s irrigation associations, while also incorporating data from the Department of Agriculture’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

Mr. Habito noted that the distribution of key equipment and technology like drying facilities should be coursed through cooperatives to ensure fair access among farmers.

“All energies on extension work must be focused on cooperatives,” he said. “That’s the very first step that our extension workers should try to do.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Bird flu vaccine approved for commercial use

��ý — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:30:05 +0000

THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the commercial use of a vaccine against avian influenza, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“With the FDA’s approval of Volvac B.E.S.T. AI plus ND, the poultry sector now has a strong line of defense against a virus that threatens both food security and human health,”��Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said.

The vaccine protects against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 and stimulates the bird’s immune system to defend against velogenic Newcastle disease, the DA said.

H5N1 is the most aggressive subtype of the bird flu virus, causing high mortality rates in chickens. It is also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans and other animals.

Velogenic Newcastle disease is the most severe form of Newcastle disease. Highly contagious and often fatal, it affects a wide range of bird species, especially domestic poultry.

Volvac B.E.S.T. is administered by injection, either into the bird’s chest muscle or into subcutaneous fat.

It is given when the bird is at least 10 days old. As with most first-time vaccinations, it takes 10 to 14 days for full immunity to develop.

The value of production of the poultry sector in 2024, including eggs, stood at P362 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Rice-importing powers pushed for FTI, Planters

��ý — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:43:29 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) proposed to legislators that Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI)�� and Planters Products, Inc.��be granted the power to import rice on behalf of the government.

The proposal follows efforts to amend the Rice Tariffication Law, which had stripped the National Food Authority (NFA) of its import powers and opened up the import trade to private traders.

In a statement, the DA cited the need to exert regulatory power over rice imports to prevent oversupply, which it said has “depressed” farmgate prices earned by domestic farmers.

“We must regain control,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said. “Rice is a commodity imbued with too much public interest to leave entirely to the private sector.”

At present, the NFA is required to build up its rice reserves by procuring domestic rice, but it can only purchase about 5% of the palay (unmilled rice) harvest “due to limited warehousing and drying capacity,” the DA noted.

It added that the NFA’s impact on the market is limited to releasing rice during calamities.

The DA said if needed, government corporations under its umbrella like FTI and the Planters Products “could import on behalf of the government.”

“The proposed changes aim to strike a balance between ensuring affordable rice for consumers and protecting the livelihoods of Filipino rice farmers,” it said.

The DA, however, clarified that the rice import function will remain largely with the private sector.

Mr. Laurel has told the Senate that private importers should be required to share the responsibility of maintaining the country’s rice reserves.

“If we aim to have a 20-day rice buffer stock, we’re thinking of a 50-50 split between the NFA and the private sector,” he said.

Under the proposed setup, rice imports will follow the sugar import model, under which the Sugar Regulatory Administration�� issues import allocations only to qualified importers.��

Rice importers will also be required to maintain their reserves by procuring palay from domestic farmers at fair prices.

A private sector role in maintaining the buffer stock, sourced from local rice farmers, will also reduce the cost to the government of maintaining its rice reserve, Mr. Laurel said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

La Niña could bring more typhoons by September

��ý — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:43:04 +0000

A POTENTIAL La Niña could start influencing weather patterns as early as September, mainly in the form of more typhoons, the government weather service, known as PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), said.

In a statement, PAGASA said the prevailing weather pattern in the tropical Pacific, known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral, is most likely to persist until October.

However, climate models indicate an increasing probability of a brief La Niña episode emerging between September and December.

La Niña, the cool phase of ENSO, is characterized by unusually cool sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

PAGASA said a La Niña Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for the development of La Niña within the next six months, and the probability rises to above 55%.

It said La Niña typically result in an above-average number of tropical cyclones towards the end of the year and above-normal rainfall in most of the Philippines, possibly bringing floods and landslides to vulnerable areas, it added.

PAGASA said it will continue to “closely monitor the ongoing El Niño, its effect on the local climate, and the possibility of La Niña.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL milk production up 11.4% in first half

��ý — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:33:46 +0000

MILK production in the six months to June rose 11.4% to 18.16 million liters, according to the National Dairy Authority (NDA).

Milk from cattle accounted for 60.4% or 10.98 million liters, the NDA said in a report.

Carabao milk made up 14.5% or 2.64 million liters of the total, it added.

Goats, meanwhile, accounted for 11.8% or 2.14 million liters.

In NDA-assisted areas, cow’s milk and goat’s milk production rose�� 11.7% and 47.5%, respectively.

The NDA said the national dairy herd grew to 166,411 head, equivalent to a 16.4% increase, largely due to the Department of Agriculture’s herd build-up programs for cattle and goats.

It said the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) is also building up the carabao herd via breeding programs.

The national dairy carabao herd consisted of 89,907 animals, of which 44.6% were grown in PCC-assisted farms.

The NDA said while cattle accounted for the smallest part of the dairy herd, “they consistently deliver the largest share of national milk production, reaffirming their strategic importance in the country’s dairy development agenda.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Agri dep’t to digitally track rice supply, prices

��ý — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 12:26:36 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday that it will launch a command center to track the rice supply chain in November.

The facility, fed with trade data primarily from the Osiris system of the Bureau of Plant Industry, will initially focus on the rice value chain — “an essential but challenging staple in the Philippines,” the DA said in a statement.

“Wild swings in rice prices could unsettle economic assumptions, particularly those tied to inflation,” it said.

The digital nerve center will consolidate critical data including production, imports, stock levels, various types of products and wholesale and retail prices.

It will also collect data on consumption rates, production and post-harvest infrastructure, utilization, irrigation coverage, spoilage, and global market trends.

“The DA has most of these data, but they are scattered across various agencies,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said.

“We must bring them together and make market sense of them, plus gather additional data that we lack, so we can use our limited resources more efficiently and productively,” he added.

The DA said “sharper forecasting” of supply and demand will be provided by the command center — facilitated by the expected restoration of regulatory powers over the rice industry to the DA and National Food Authority through amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law.

Improved forecasting accuracy will provide “much-needed predictability” and improved incomes for rice farmers, it added.

The command center model will later be applied to high-value crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Mushroom waste being tested as fish feed

��ý — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 12:25:58 +0000

THE Department of Science and Technology (DoST) said it is funding a project that seeks to turn mushroom farming waste, known as spent mushroom substrate (SMS), into fish feed for tilapia aquaculture.

The DoST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) said tilapia farmers face rising feed costs, one of the most expensive inputs.

“Traditionally, fish feed is made using fishmeal or plant-based ingredients like soybean meal,” it said.

“However, the cost and environmental concerns tied to these ingredients have prompted a search for more sustainable alternatives,” it added.

PCAARRD said SMS could be a sustainable and cost-effective fish feed ingredient due to widespread availability from a “booming mushroom industry.”

Now on its second year, the project, being conducted by researchers from the Partido State University in Bicol, has developed five types of fish feed with varying amounts of SMS replacing soybean meal.

The experimental feed was evaluated for key qualities such as durability in water, safety, nutritional value, and fish acceptance.

The project team collected two types of SMS, freshly harvested and aged from mushroom farms to determine which version is more suitable for feed use. The samples were then analyzed at the University of the Philippines Los Baños to assess their nutrient composition, including protein, fiber, fat, and moisture content.

The analysis also identified 12 types of beneficial bacteria from the Bacillus family living in the SMS. These microbes are known for their ability to survive in tough environments and even improve gut health in animals.

“Results from the project showed significant differences in their proximate compositions, microbial loads, and functional characteristics, each influencing their suitability for different applications,” PCAARRD said.

“But generally, aged SMS was found to be more suitable as an aquafeed ingredient as it has higher protein and fiber levels, lower fat and moisture, and showed better stability, making it a good option for feed formulation,” it added.

By repurposing SMS, the initiative supports a circular economy, “turning what was once discarded into a useful resource while also reducing the cost of aquafeeds,” PCCARD noted.

“In the long run, the project seeks to achieve improved tilapia production, less waste from mushroom farms, and more affordable fish farming across the region,” it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

FNI slams Chairman’s arrest

��ý — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 12:08:44 +0000

GLOBAL Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI) on Monday strongly denounced the “unlawful” arrest and detention of its Chairman, Joseph Sy, over a “baseless” accusation of misrepresenting his citizenship.

The nickel company asserted Mr. Sy’s citizenship has been confirmed by at least six rulings from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Department of Justice, the Office of the President, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Supreme Court.

“He entered the country on his valid Philippine passport, which the Supreme Court has recognized as official proof of identity of Filipino nationality,” FNI said in a statement.

“His detention is a grave injustice, but we remain confident that the truth and the law will prevail.”

The company noted that its operations and all companies under the Group remain “stable, legitimate, and unaffected.”

The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) on Monday also called for the release of FNI’s chairman, saying BI’s detention is “deeply troubling and illegally inconsistent” considering it has twice recognized Mr. Sy’s citizenship.

“His continued detention on mere suspicion of being an alien, without lawful basis and outside the BI’s jurisdiction, is a grave injustice and a violation of the fundamental principles of due process,” it added.

PNIA noted the arrest and subsequent detention of Mr. Sy sends a “wrong message” to investors as the Philippines seeks to bolster business confidence.

“We call on the authorities to act swiftly, observe due process, and immediately resolve this matter by releasing Mr. Sy without delay,” it said.��

Developments over Mr. Sy’s detention are being closely monitored by the SEC, which said it will evaluate whether necessary actions are warranted under its jurisdiction.

“Any action taken by the SEC on the matter will be in line with promoting transparency and confidence in the markets, especially matters that affect the governance of publicly listed companies,” the corporate watchdog said in a statement sent to ��ý on Monday.

Amid the detention, the SEC reminded listed companies that all material developments that could influence the decision of investors must be “promptly disclosed” to the public as mandated under Rule 17.1.1 of the implementing rules and regulations of the Securities Regulation Code, as well as the consolidated listing and disclosure rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

“The commission reiterates its commitment to upholding the interests of the investing public and ensuring that the integrity of the capital market is preserved,” it said.

Sought for comment, the BI noted in a Viber message to ��ý that Mr. Sy is the subject of a mission order and an investigation from the BI, which received information from government intelligence sources about his “alleged illegally acquired Philippine documents.”

The BI said he was found to be using a Philippine passport issued in 2021 and was in possession of several Philippine identity cards showing that he is a Filipino.

“However, Viado shared that their Alien Registration Division was able to confirm that his fingerprints matched that of a Chinese citizen, who previously held a long-term visa and an Alien Certificate Registration Identity Card,” it added.

The BI said Mr. Sy is “said to own many major businesses in the country” and has “infiltrated different economic and business groups.”

“Without naturalization, a foreign national is not eligible to get Philippine citizenship documents,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.

“Government intelligence sources have reason to believe that this is another case of assumed Philippine identity, similar to that of Alice Guo,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel raised concerns over Mr. Sy’s detention after she learned that he had served as a volunteer with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), citing it could be a national security risk.

The PCG did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

“The Senate must immediately probe his affiliations, background and the circumstances under which he obtained his Philippine documents,” Ms. Hontiveros said in a statement.

The BI said Mr. Sy, who is facing a deportation case for misrepresentation, is currently held at the BI’s holding facility in Bicutan, Taguig.

BI operatives arrested Mr. Sy on Aug. 21 after arriving from Hong Kong. He was detained due to an alleged misrepresentation of his citizenship.��

FNI is a listed mining company that has business interests in nickel ore mining, logistics, cement and steel production, and port operations. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Camarines Sur cold storage complex up and running by Dec.

��ý — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 16:04:43 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said a P500-million cold storage facility is set to open in Camarines Sur in December.

The proposed facility in Pili is expected to “enhance food security, generate jobs, spur agri-investments, and significantly boost farmers’ incomes in Bicol and nearby regions,” the DA said in a statement.

It is designed to store a wide range of agricultural commodities including vegetables, meat, chicken and fish, the DA added.

The cold storage complex will have six refrigerated warehouses, each capable of storing approximately 224 tons of agricultural products.

With a total capacity exceeding 1,300 tons, the facility is designed to serve not just Camarines Sur, but also other parts of Bicol, the Visayas, and even Mindanao, whose products pass through the province on their way to Metro Manila and other major markets.

The DA said the facility features a solar power system to help cut electricity costs, a blast freezer, and a processing and packing area to support value-adding services for farmers.

“It will allow them to preserve their harvest longer, reduce spoilage, and access new markets,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said.

The DA said sites in Taguig City, Cabanatuan City, Occidental Mindoro and Isabela are set to open starting next year.

“In addition, over 100 modular cold storage units will be deployed to various farming communities across the country,” it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Brazil’s FRIGON sees PHL demand for beef growing with middle classes

��ý — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 16:03:43 +0000

A BRAZILIAN beef processor and exporter said the Philippines’ growing middle class will fuel demand for high-quality protein.

FRIGON (Irmãos Gonçalves Comércio e Indústria Ltda.), currently exports mainly grass-fed Nelore cattle to the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
“The Philippine market represents an exciting opportunity,” the company told ��ý.

“We see the country as a dynamic economy with a growing demand for high-quality protein, where beef consumption continues to expand alongside a rising middle class,” it added.

The company said it is “confident” of servicing Philippine market requirements for “safe, reliable, and premium Brazilian beef,” citing its “strong capacity, international certifications, and flexibility in adapting our products to the clients’ demand.”

“We are looking forward to building long-term partnerships in the Philippines and to supporting the development of stronger trade relations between our countries,” FRIGON said.

FRIGON has the capacity to slaughter 2,000 head of cattle per day, with an expansion underway to double capacity by 2026 in response to growing global demand.

In 2024, the Philippines was the 5^th largest destination for Brazilian beef, accounting for 92,200 metric tons or 3.19% of Brazil’s total exports.��— Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL sees niche in climate-resilient cacao

��ý — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:20:10 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is updating the cacao industry roadmap to focus on global branding and climate-resilient varieties to address the impact of climate change in the main supplier countries.

The cacao strategy will focus on “increasing production, developing processing facilities, and expanding markets while promoting sustainable and ethical sourcing practices,” the DA said in a statement.

Cacao accounted for P1.78 billion of the crop sector last year by value of production.

“The roadmap also encourages greater private sector investment to solidify the Philippines’ position as a global supplier of quality cacao,” it added.

The DA said cacao should be a “driver of rural employment, farmer income, and sustainable investment.”

It said it is developing a globally recognized “Bicol Cacao” brand, “one that’s rooted in quality, climate-smart practices, and community empowerment.”

The DA said the global market context “adds urgency and opportunity,” as the cocoa bean market is valued at approximately $14 billion and is projected to grow to $17 billion by 2030.

It noted that supply disruptions caused by climate change and new European regulations banning beans from deforested land have led to soaring prices of cocoa — the fermented version of cacao and main ingredient to making chocolate — peaking at over $12,000 per ton last year from $3,200 two years earlier.��

The bulk of the global supply comes from Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.

These shifts open the door for naturally grown, climate-resilient cacao from the Philippines “to gain ground,” the DA said.

“Our targets are bold: higher yields, better incomes, and a stronger global footprint,” it said.

“But at the core is something deeper — empowering our farmers and inspiring the next generation to see cacao not just as tradition, but as a thriving, future-ready enterprise,” it added.

“The surge in cacao’s value reflects rising demand and improved farmgate prices, further underscoring its growing economic potential,” the DA said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Chicken production up 8.2% in second quarter

��ý — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:28:15 +0000

CHICKEN production in the three months to June rose 8.2%, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported, reflecting the switch to other meats due to high pork prices.

Chicken produced in the second quarter amounted to 563.04 thousand metric tons (MT).

In 2023 and 2024, chicken production rose 3.2% and 8.9%, respectively, it added.

Central Luzon accounted for 33.6% or 189.09 thousand MT of production during the period, with output growing by 22.30 thousand MT from a year earlier.

It was followed by Calabarzon with 113.60 thousand MT, Northern Mindanao with 41.16 thousand MT, the Central Visayas with 35.52 thousand MT, and Soccsksargen with 26.48 thousand MT.

Of the total, broiler chicken accounted for 87.5%, followed by native/improved chicken at 11.0% share, culled layer chicken at 1.2%, and gamefowl for breeding at 0.2%.

At the end of June, the chicken inventory was 212.83 million birds, down 2.3% from a year earlier.

Chicken egg production in the three months to June rose 4.8% year on year to 207.76 thousand MT.

Calabarzon was the top producer of chicken egg with 68.09 thousand MT or a 32.8% share, followed by Central Luzon (35.72 thousand MT), the Central Visayas (20.75 thousand MT), Northern Mindanao (18.24 thousand MT), and Soccsksargen (10.39 thousand MT).

The PSA said hog production in the three months to June fell 7.5% to 390.49 thousand MT on a liveweight basis.

Central Luzon accounted for 56.90 thousand MT, or 14.6% of the total, followed by Calabarzon (52.87 thousand MT), Northern Mindanao (50.61 thousand MT), Central Visayas (36.01 thousand MT), and Davao Region (29.77 thousand MT).

The PSA said 14 regions registered declining production during the quarter, with the Central Visayas posting the highest decrease of 13.66 thousand MT.

As of the end of June, the national swine inventory was 9.01 million head, down 5.6% from a year earlier.

About 71.6% of the swine population was grown by smallholder farms, while 24.8% and 3.6% were grown by commercial and semi-commercial farms, respectively.

The PSA said dairy production in the three months to June hit 8.38 thousand MT, up 9.6% from a year earlier.

Calabarzon accounted for 2.27 thousand MT or 27.1% of the total dairy production, followed by Western Visayas (1.37 thousand MT), Northern Mindanao (1.02 thousand MT), Central Luzon (1.01 thousand MT), and Central Visayas (0.57 thousand MT).

As of June 30, the dairy animal herd rose 16.4% to 166.41 thousand head.

Dairy carabaos accounted for 54% of the herd, followed by dairy goat at 23.5% and dairy cattle at 22.5%. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza��

Better-tasting rice to be cultivated in next planting

��ý — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:27:53 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will encourage the cultivation of high-yielding rice that satisfies consumer preferences for taste.

Agriculture spokesman Arnel V. de Mesa said the DA will study imported rice varieties like Vietnam’s OM18, OM5451, and DT8, which are both high-yielding and make for good eating.

Some Philippine rice varieties are high-yielding but are not considered good-tasting, like 222 and RC10, he said.

“We cannot sacrifice the quality and quantity,” he added.

Mr. De Mesa said the DA will help farmers plant high-yielding, good-quality varieties in the next cropping season.

The DA expects a harvest of about 11 million metric tons during the wet season, which runs between October and November. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Sustainability of PHL tuna seen at risk after SC ruling

��ý — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:40:38 +0000

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

PHILIPPINE tuna could struggle to obtain sustainability certificates following a Supreme Court (SC) ruling that allowed commercial vessels to operate within municipal waters, tuna industry groups said on Tuesday.

“Allowing commercial vessels in municipal waters raises serious questions about stock management and environmental enforcement,” according to Veronica Rabano of Jarla Trading, a member of the Philippine Association of Tuna Processors Inc., (PATPI).

She said the ruling could jeopardize the industry’s access to crucial export markets which require traceability and sustainability of fish products.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) estimates that about 70% of tuna caught in municipal waters is harvested by small-scale fisherfolk.

Bernard Mayo, who chairs the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council in Mamburao, Mindoro, said in a statement that municipal fisherfolk who supply tuna to processors have been affected by dwindling catches.

“We catch less tuna these days. We used to catch around 100 kilograms per trip. Now, we catch less than 50, if anything,” he said.

“The area designated for municipal fishing is already small, and (commercial operators) want to encroach on that too,” he added.

Ms. Rabano said the Supreme Court ruling, once enforced, will affect the entire tuna export supply chain.

“Maintaining our certifications is not just about brand reputation; it’s a matter of survival for our business. If we lose them, we risk losing access to our key markets,” she said.

PATPI is a member of the Philippine Tuna Handline Partnership (PTHP), which also includes the Gulf of Lagonoy Tuna Fishers Federation, Inc. (GLTFFI) and the Occidental Mindoro Federation of Tuna Fishers Associations (OMFTFA).

It took years and millions of pesos to complete the certification process for the PTHP, which became the first group to receive a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification in October 2021.

The Philippines is the fourth-largest tuna exporter in the region, with its shipments hitting $500 million in 2024.

Aside from the European Union, other primary markets for Philippine tuna are the US and Japan, “all demanding proof of sustainability through third-party ecolabels, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friend of the Sea (FOS) labels,” Oceana Philippines said.

“Obtaining these certifications enables exporters to enter more lucrative segments, command higher prices for certified products, and maintain access as regulatory standards evolve,” it added.

Quotas backed for rice importers tied to their purchases of palay — Agri dep’t

��ý — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:39:15 +0000

THE private sector needs to be set rice import quotas tied to the level of their purchases of palay (unmilled rice) from domestic farmers, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. told Senators on Tuesday.

The quota is among the proposals put forward by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to amend the Rice Tariffication Law of 2019, Mr. Laurel said.

The law had allowed unrestricted imports by private traders who were made to pay an initial tariff of 35% on their shipments. Private imports were meant to replace imports brought in by the National Food Authority (NFA), whose import powers were stripped from it.

He added that private importers should share the NFA’s remaining function of maintaining the national rice reserve.

“I was thinking of 50-50,” he said, noting that if the buffer stock requirement is increased to 20 days from 15 currently, the government and the private sector should each maintain stock sufficient for 10 days’ demand.

The 50-50 scheme is expected to boost palay purchases and save the government storage costs, Mr. Laurel noted.

“If possible, we only import what we need plus the buffer stock,” he said, noting that only the private sector will remain solely responsible for imports.

Earlier amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law�� increased the minimum reserve requirement to 15 days’ demand from 9. Under the law, all rice held in reserve must be sourced from domestic farmers.

The DA is also seeking restoration of the National Food Authority’s regulatory duties and power to sell rice directly to the public.

Currently, the NFA is only allowed to sell rice to local government units (LGUs) and a limited number of other entities upon the declaration of a food security emergency.

Mr. Laurel noted��that LGUs prefer imported rice over NFA stock due to the low price of imports.

He urged senators to back measures to modernize irrigation and logistics.

“To irrigate over a million hectares of farmland, we need more than P1 trillion. Without it, we enrich foreign farmers while our own continue to struggle,” he said, noting that “investment must match ambition if the Philippines is to achieve self-sufficiency and food security.”

He also expressed his opposition to��the devolution of agricultural extension services under the Local Government Code.

Also on Wednesday, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Francis Pancratius N. Pangilinan sought to convene the Congressional Oversight Committee on Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage under Section 25 of Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act.

He said the government should start prosecuting rice traders under the law.

Mr. Pangilinan also��urged the government to tap the nearly 25,000 graduates of agriculture courses from state universities and colleges, government schools, and other universities to fill the 2,500 vacancies at the DA. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Agri department sees signs of monopoly in rice milling industry

��ý — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:47:56 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said capacity utilization data are pointing to possible monopolies in rice milling, and signaled measures to bring utilization down to healthier levels.

The measures include reorganizing the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) to focus more on production-side equipment, leaving the DA the responsibility of producing rice processing systems, it said in a statement.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said some rice millers are operating at nearly 100% capacity, which he noted was an indicator of “monopolistic conditions.”

“Our target utilization rate is 80% to 85%,” he said, at which level millers can operate with appropriate efficiency.

He said once rice mill usage stabilizes within the target range, PhilMech will be refocused on production-side equipment like tractors and seeders.

PhilMech currently makes large-scale rice processing systems.

“This strategic shift would support the National Food Authority, which has seen its milling and drying capacity significantly diminished since the Rice Tariffication Law of 2019 scaled back its operational role,” he said.

“By focusing on smart utilization rather than unchecked expansion, the DA aims to balance market supply, stabilize rice prices, and protect farmer incomes,” it said.

The Rice Tariffication Law gave rise to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which is financed by rice import tariffs and funds equipment procurement to modernize the rice industry. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Sugarcane pests spread to 3,394 hectares of Visayas plantations

��ý — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:46:45 +0000

A PEST infestation in Visayas sugar plantations has been reported on 3,394 hectares (ha) as of Aug. 11, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

On Aug. 1, the area affected by the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) had been 3,264 ha, it said.

Some 1,923 farmers were affected by the infestation of RSSI, which has the potential to reduce sugar content in cane by 50%, the SRA told ��ý.

It said the SRA is still “awaiting a permit to use” from the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority before procuring certain pesticides for sugar cane, after the province of Negros Occidental declared a state of calamity in mid-July.

RSSI was detected in 3,290 ha of Negros Occidental sugar land.

It was followed by Iloilo (59.69 ha), Capiz (25.1 ha), Leyte (12.17 ha), and Negros Oriental (7.6 ha).

SRA researchers were conducting field studies on mass producing pathogenic fungi to counter RSSI.

The fungi reduce the reproductive capacity of the targeted organism. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Rice import freeze not expected to affect inflation; stocks ample

��ý — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:55:47 +0000

THE temporary ban on rice imports is not expected to stoke inflation as rice stocks remain substantial, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“We had a record harvest in the first half, plus we are expecting a record harvest for the wet season,” DA spokesman Arnel V. De Mesa told reporters.

“This means that we have lots of rice and palay (unmilled rice) in circulation. (We do not expect) sudden surges in rice prices,” he added.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. suspended rice imports between September and October to provide relief to farmers, who have had to sell their grain to traders for as little as P8 per kilo in some places, well below production costs.

Mr. De Mesa noted that due to the upcoming import ban, the international price of Vietnamese rice declined.

He noted that the Philippines accounts for 45% of Vietnam’s rice shipments.

Palay production in the first half of 2025 rose 6.4% year on year to 9.08 million metric tons (MMT), of which 4.38 MMT came in during the three months to June, the highest second-quarter output since 1987.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the national rice inventory as of July 1 rose 27% year on year to 2.8 MMT.

Rice carries a 9% weighting in the basket of goods used to estimate inflation.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) has said that the sustained drop in rice prices has significantly eased the cost of living for low-income households.

Mr. De Mesa said rice tariff collections, which go towards supporting the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), were substantial during the earlier months of the year, adding that the import suspension will not affect the RCEF’s funding.

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) reported that imported rice landed between January and July totaled 2.44 MMT.

Mr. De Mesa urged legislators to give equal attention to water impounding and irrigation projects after flood control projects came under scrutiny following their failure to prevent floods during the spate of July rains.

He noted that floods result in the loss of 500,000-600,000 metric tons of palay annually.

Central Luzon, the leading rice-producing region, was heavily affected by flooding in July.

Irrigation systems, which have separate drainage systems, are “long-term” investments, Mr. De Mesa noted. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Fisherfolk set to join P20 rice beneficiary list

��ý — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:54:56 +0000

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the beneficiary list of P20-per-kilo rice program will be expanded this month to include fisherfolk.

The DA said the rice will start to go on sale at fishports by the end of the month.

“Weekly provincial rollouts will also continue in areas with active NFA (National Food Authority) depots through the end of the year,” it said in a statement on Monday.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the rice program is the DA’s “biggest challenge” that still needs “full support” from the government. The subsidized-rice program currently benefits nearly 400,000 families.

“We have the stocks. We have the budget. What we need now is urgency and unity,” he said, referring to the P10-billion increase in rice program funding under the 2026 national budget.

The program was originally limited to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents and indigents. It was recently expanded to minimum wage earners,��beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom program, and farmers and farm workers enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

DENR supports hiring of informal waste collectors

��ý — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:52:48 +0000

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it supports the absorption of waste collectors by the formal waste management industry.

The DENR said in a statement that informal collectors can thereby access welfare benefits, boosting their economic opportunities.

It said while Republic Act 9003 provides the legal framework for solid waste management, it does not yet establish clear protections or governance structures for the informal waste sector.

“The informal waste workers remain excluded from the solid waste management value chain, yet their work is indispensable and forms the very backbone of a supply chain that advances environmental sustainability,” Environment Secretary Raphael P. M. Lotilla said.

“Faced with the growing weight of plastic pollution, we must build stronger partnerships that turn our environmental goals into tangible results that benefit all sectors, protect all ecosystems, and uplift all communities,” he added.

Informal waste workers include waste reclaimers, itinerant waste buyers, and small junk shop operators who recover and recycle significant amounts of waste materials, which help reduce the dependency on landfills.

According to the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), informal waste workers operate without workplace safety protections, stable incomes, or access to social services.

“Exposure to hazardous materials puts them at risk of respiratory illnesses, infections, and injuries,” it added.

The National Solid Waste Management Commission requires local government units to integrate programs supporting informal waste workers into their 10-year solid waste management plans to ensure institutional recognition and access to essential services.

In 2024, the EMB briefed about 200 informal waste workers in the National Capital Region, Region III, and Region IV-A on their role in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 and the Ecological Solid Waste Management�� Act of 2000, particularly in helping producers achieve recycling targets under the EPR system.

This year, the EMB will provide grants for weighing scales to 50 junk shops in Quezon City to support waste recovery and recycling, and connect workers to larger markets and enterprises where they can support producers seeking to comply with the EPR Act. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Metro Manila air quality improved in 2024 due to Euro 4 fuel standards, says DENR

��ý — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:09:02 +0000

AIR QUALITY in Metro Manila improved significantly in 2024, largely due to emission-reduction programs including the enforcement of Euro 4 fuel standards since 2016, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

Based on data from the agency’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), average particulate matter 10 (PM10) concentration in the capital region fell 17.4% to 38 micrograms per normal cubic meter (µg/ncm) from 46 µg/ncm in 2016.

PM10 refers to particles 10 micrometers or smaller, while PM2.5 includes finer particles of 2.5 micrometers or less. Such pollutants, often produced by vehicle exhaust, burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes, can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, the DENR said.

The EMB also recorded a 37.6% improvement in PM2.5 levels in Metro Manila, from 27 µg/ncm in 2016 to 16.86 µg/ncm in 2024.

Nationwide, the DENR reported a 28.2% reduction in PM10, from 39 µg/ncm in 2016 to 28 µg/ncm in 2024 — well below the national guideline value of 60 µg/ncm. PM2.5 levels also dropped to 16 µg/ncm in 2024 from 20 µg/ncm in 2016, reflecting the effectiveness of emission-reduction initiatives.

The agency said 65% of highly urbanized and major urban centers — or 22 out of 34 cities — complied with both PM10 and PM2.5 air quality guidelines last year, surpassing the national compliance target of 62%.

From 2022 to 2024, the EMB issued 1,807 certificates for Euro 4-compliant vehicles, certifying that new units meet emission standards before entering the market. Euro 4 regulations set strict limits on pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from both light- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The DENR said it is “actively leading” the shift toward Euro 5 fuels and engines, which could cut particulate emissions by as much as 95.5%. It is also pushing changes to the Philippine Clean Air Act to strengthen standards regulating industrial emissions, particularly particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.

The EMB has been implementing industrial emission monitoring programs covering coal-fired power plants, cement plants and other major facilities. As of June, 20 companies with 59 stack sampling teams were accredited to conduct emission testing, up from 57 teams last year.

The bureau said many facilities are now equipped with continuous emission monitoring systems linked to the EMB Data Center, allowing real-time emission tracking and ensuring compliance.

To support air quality management, the EMB operates 113 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, providing real-time data on harmful pollutants to guide policymaking. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza Archives - ����ý Online