Fisherfolk from Zambales province in the Philippines met with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to discuss production subsidies for communities affected by the southwest monsoon and other issues impacting the province's fishing industry.

The Department of Agriculture in the Philippines has expanded its P20/kilo rice program to the province of Kalinga, with Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leading the rollout.

The Philippines faces a challenge as consumers now prefer imported rice, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, noting that local varieties are losing ground in the domestic market.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Philippines plans to appeal a Supreme Court decision that went against its vessel monitoring system policy. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that the system is the most effective way to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has cautioned that global agriculture is confronting multiple, interconnected crises that are negatively impacting both production and trade worldwide.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered a halt to the importation of feedstock, including molasses and sugarcane, for bioethanol production. The move aims to protect the domestic sugar industry and local farmers.

The Department of Agriculture in the Philippines may require an additional P40 billion in funding if the country's oil crisis continues, according to DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.