At a Senate agriculture hearing, Tulfo pointed out that places like General Santos and Bohol already have abundant supply, yet local products often go to waste due to the lack of cold storage. He said importation threatens the livelihood of local fisherfolk.

“Kahit may oversupply na tayo ng seafood products, patuloy pa rin ang Department of Agriculture (DA) sa pag-isyu ng special import permits sa mga importer,” the senator said.

He added, “Unfair ito para sa mga mangingisda natin na nalulugi dahil madalas nasisira na ang produkto nila! Paano sila makikipagsabayan kung ang mga imported na isda, na balita ko ang iba galing pa sa China, ay ibinebenta nang sobrang mura?”

Tulfo required the DA to conduct a market study before approving any importation and to coordinate with the Bureau of Customs to prevent smuggling, undervaluation, and misdeclaration of imported products.

DA Undersecretary Carlos Carag and Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno assured Tulfo that both agencies will work together to ensure special import permits are strictly monitored.IMT

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Speaking during the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) budget deliberations, Tiu Laurel emphasized that agricultural support must go beyond food security under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., stressing the importance of raising farmers’ income to strengthen local production.

“Our goal is not simply to grow more food, but to ensure that every Filipino family has access to healthy, affordable meals. And that those who grow our food can live lives of dignity, not desperation,” he said.

The DA chief lamented the “chronic neglect” of the agriculture sector, calling it the “backbone of the Philippine economy.”

“This is not the future they deserve, and this is the reality we must change together,” Tiu Laurel added.

He noted that about 10 million agriculture workers, or one in every five farmers and fishers, continue to live in poverty.

“Despite their unmatched effort, many still harvest hope more than profit. Many cast their nets with uncertainty rather than security,” he said.

The proposed budget covers programs to increase productivity, modernize farming, strengthen value chains, and improve infrastructure such as cold storage and farm-to-market roads.

It also funds initiatives like Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Rice for All, and disaster preparedness measures.

Key projects include the expansion of irrigation systems, provision of seeds and fertilizers, mechanization, post-harvest facilities, digitalization, crop insurance, and accessible credit to help transform the sector.PNA

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In his keynote at the Bulacan Food Fair and Exposition (Buffex 2025) in Malolos, Pangilinan said Bulacan remains a major driver of the economy, contributing nearly 15% to the country’s agri-fishery sector. He noted the province’s 2023 GDP topped P600 million, proving that food production fuels jobs and value-adding.

Citing his own experience as a farmer-CEO, Pangilinan shared that shifting from raw harvest sales to packaged products increased his earnings.

“Let us keep innovating, let us continue to look at value-adding product development,” he said.

Pangilinan also highlighted Senate Bill No. 1183, or the Agricultural Cooperatives Act of 2025, which funds sustainable farming methods and requires mentorship and training for cooperative members.

But he stressed that legislation alone is not enough. The real key to higher revenues lies in innovation and collective action, said Pangilinan, assuring farmers and entrepreneurs of his full support. 

“My office is your office,” he also said.IMT

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Geron Magbanua, chief of the Crops Division of the Provincial Agriculture Office, said the expansion is part of Iloilo’s plan to reclaim coconut as a major commodity in the province.

Currently, only 8 percent of Iloilo’s agricultural land is planted with coconuts despite its potential, but studies show that 30 to 50 percent of the province’s farmland can sustain coconut production.

“If we expand planting and strengthen processing and market linkages, coconut can shift from being an alternative to becoming the main source of income for many farmers,” Magbanua said.

A major hurdle, however, is that most of Iloilo’s planting materials still come from Mindanao. To address this, the province—working with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)—plans to establish local seednut farms and nurseries.

“This will secure our own supply of quality planting materials and protect Iloilo from pests and diseases affecting coconuts in other regions,” Magbanua explained.

PCA records show Iloilo already has 38,240 hectares of coconut land, 3.8 million palms, and over 37,000 registered farmers, but Magbanua emphasized that awareness of support programs remains low.

Through the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) Fund, farmers can access technical assistance, financial aid, and development opportunities.

“We want them to know these programs exist and are available,” said Magbanua.

The revival plan took the spotlight during the first Iloilo Provincial Coconut Week, with coconut-based products showcased in a weeklong expo at the capitol.

As part of the celebration, 100 seednuts of the Tacunan variety were planted in Leon town, symbolizing the start of expansion.

Vice Governor Lee Ann Dubuque also pushed for a measure requiring buko juice and other coconut products to be served at government events, a move PCA-6 said could be institutionalized through an ordinance.

For Iloilo officials, the revival is more than just crop diversification—it is a strategic comeback for an industry that can power both agriculture and local economy.

“With the right strategy, coconut can rise again as Iloilo’s flagship crop,” Magbanua said.IMT

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Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the auction, to be handled by the Department of Agriculture, will cover around 1.2 million bags of rice with a floor price of P25 to P28 per kilo, depending on age.

The move also aims to free up warehouses for incoming harvests.

Castro added that rice will also be released to support the administration’s “Benteng Bigas, Mayroon Na” program, which offers rice at P20 per kilo for select beneficiaries.

She assured that the government will closely monitor rice prices to prevent manipulation, while the DA continues consultations with farmers, millers, and traders ahead of the two-month rice import suspension set to begin September 1.

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Pangilinan, chairperson of the Senate agriculture panel, led a hearing on possible amendments to the law. He pointed to low farmgate prices, inadequate safety nets, and weak support programs for rice production.

“Nangako itong ibaba ang presyo ng bigas para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino at itaguyod ang isang modernized competitive rice industry. Pero ayun na nga, hindi ito natupad mapag sa hanggang ngayon,” he said.

The senator also raised concerns over the P60-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, citing allegations it was diverted to cronies instead of directly helping farmers.

Rampant importation has worsened the problem, according to him.

PSA data show actual rice imports far exceed what is needed, with USDA projecting volumes to rise from 3.65 million metric tons in 2023 to 5.4 million in 2025.

Pangilinan, a farmer himself, noted that rice farmers remain among the poorest, earning an average of only P41,000 in 2023, barely half the amount needed to support a family of five.IMT

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The mobile facility, a customized 10-wheeler truck from the DA’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), carries state-of-the-art equipment capable of performing 44 chemical, physical, and microbiological tests.

The service will provide farmers with science-based data to improve productivity and strengthen soil health for long-term sustainability.

“This is a significant step in showing our farmers that science can bring greater improvements to agriculture and their livelihoods,” said DA-6 Regional Executive Director Dennis R. Arpia, thanking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for supporting the initiative.

According to Regional Soils Laboratory chief Babylou Magdaug, the MSL can deliver test results within five days—or even on the same day if samples are collected quickly.

The unit is one of 16 mobile soil labs distributed nationwide on June 30 as part of the National Soil Health Program Strategy 2: Monitoring of Soil Health, under Presidential Decree No. 1435. The program seeks to make soil testing more accessible and reliable for farmers across the country.

By bringing laboratory services directly to the field, the DA aims to help producers of rice, corn, vegetables, high-value crops, and fruits adopt data-driven crop management practices—allowing for the precise application of fertilizers and more efficient land use.IMT

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The subsidy, approved under Supplemental Budget No. 2 worth ₱125.02 million, will cover the city’s ₱6.50 per kilo share to make the low-cost rice accessible through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Merkado Lokal outlets.

Mayor Raisa Treñas, who endorsed the measure to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said the initiative is meant to ease the financial strain of soaring rice prices on ordinary families.

“This is direct relief for our consumers. By working with Food Terminal Inc., we can bring affordable rice to Iloilo households faster,” she said.

The city government is now preparing to seal an agreement with Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), pending authorization from the council.

The proposal was initially deferred in Wednesday’s session but is expected to be tackled again next week.

Under the BBM rice scheme, target beneficiaries can buy up to 10 kilos of rice per month at just ₱20 per kilo, with the national government covering the rest of the subsidy in partnership with LGUs.

The Department of Agriculture has tasked FTI to lead the collaboration with local governments to ensure grassroots reach, framing the program as a national push for food security and price relief.IMT

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The list was presented during the Senate agriculture committee’s first hearing on August 20. 

Pangilinan said he will press the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the next hearing to explain why cases have not been filed against those involved.

Among those identified were 1024 Consumer Goods Trading (broker: Loujin Arm Ramos Tenero); Berches Consumer Goods Trading (brokers: Berly Bitoy Ramos, Efren Yu Abello Jr., Gretchen Francisco Gimeno, Jason Alolor Ejes, John Cyril Mapa Imperial, Kimmuel Gler Lopez, Lyn Dinglasan Estrella, Muscholary Rose Sinuto Gonzales, Myr Dela Torre Ramos, Richelle Bautista Ramirez, Rodalyn Goc Ong); EPCB Consumer Goods Trading (broker: Ellaine Joy Gedaria); Queenstar Industry Consumer Trading (broker: Judy Ann Gumban Jungco); and Vox Enterprises OPC (broker: Abegail Gruta Yumang).

Pangilinan warned that the P15–P20 million worth of seized goods may be undervalued in records to fall below the P10 million threshold. He urged the government to file charges, issue arrest warrants, and blacklist the firms.

Since the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act was signed in 2024, he noted that only three cases have been filed, all still under probe, with arrests limited to warehouse staff instead of major smugglers.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. also sought stronger enforcement powers for the DA. The Senate will resume its inquiry on September 1.IMT

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“Yung 60-day ban is good as a stop gap measure, but it is not enough. Why are we suspending the entry of imports? Dahil anihan na beginning October, November, December,” Pangilinan said, pointing out the expected massive drops in palay prices due to imports during harvest season.

“We cannot be dependent on imports because kung biglang tumaas yan, food security ang challenge. Kung mataas ang supply, mataas ang presyo ng bigas at pag mataas ang presyo ng bigas, ang kapalit nyan ay gutom sa milyon-milyon nating kababayan,” he told student leaders in Tuguegarao City.

As chair of the Senate agriculture panel, Pangilinan vowed to push for a P100-billion increase in the Department of Agriculture’s budget, raising it to P800 billion over six years. 

He said that while Taiwan spends $600 billion a year on agriculture for 23 million people, the Philippines spends only $4 billion for 120 million. Thailand and Vietnam also invest much more in their farm sectors.

The senator said the additional funds should go to organizing farmers, improving credit access, post-harvest facilities, machinery, and subsidies for inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.

“Kaya talaga ang pinaka-weakest link sa agriculture supply is the farmer and therefore if the farmer is the weakest link then the farmer must have the biggest support to be able to strengthen the farmers and fisherfolk, and that’s what we’re going to work on,” he stressed. “In the next six years, yan ang ipaglalaban natin. Tiyaking hindi ninanakaw ang pondo. Hindi lang correct spending, tiyaking walang corrupt spending.”IMT

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