Agriculture

Following the tragic trash slide in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City last January 8, that killed and buried many and destroyed some houses, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has ordered a thorough review of all operating landfills in the country to prevent similar disasters. DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla, in a press release, said the move is part of a …

Sovereign wealth fund manager Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) seeks to close strategic agribusiness deals within the first six months of 2026, backing firms ready to scale production and expand the country’s export capacity. In a statement on Monday, MIC said it will focus on special situations and strategic mergers and acquisitions in the agricultural sector. It is looking at businesses …

By Rose de la Cruz IT CERTAINLY would be a good, if not the best, year in 2026 for the Department of Agriculture. Considering that it is set to get a final allocation of at least P216.1 billion after various legislative adjustments.  The DA welcomed the House’s approval of its proposed P216.1 billion budget for 2026—a P39.4 billion increase from …

THE damage on irrigation systems caused by illegal quarrying in the Upper Pampanga River Irrigation System (UPRIS) is expected to disrupt the planting of rice in 37,000 hectares in Nueva Ecija– the country’s rice bowl – prompting the Department of Agriculture to shift production in said farms to mungbean production. The disruption threatens to slash the country’s summer rice harvest …

WITH onion harvest coming by the start of February, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform told the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to intensify their operations against onion smuggling, warning that illegal imports could once again undermine local farmers and distort market prices. Pangilinan stressed that the influx …

By DA Press Office THE ban on sugar importation would stay until December 2026– not September as reported– to extend the protection for local sugar producers in view of improving supply conditions, the Department of Agriculture said. “Based on the current outlook for sugar production and demand, a longer import moratorium than initially suggested is necessary,” explained DA Secretary Francisco …

By Bloomberg News AFTER last year’s historic rally, cocoa prices are heading for a record annual slump. But there’s no sign the cost of candies, bars or chocolate will follow any time soon.  Cocoa futures almost tripled last year, inflicting pain on manufacturers, who in turn hiked chocolate prices. They’re still working through beans they bought at the top of …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz ALL those decades I have spent covering the agriculture beat, including the National Irrigation Administration, the nearest to transparency that I can remember in my coverage is ocular inspection and briefings of the projects.  We were told by NIA heads– then and now—the cost of the projects, the size of farmlands that would …

FARM damage caused by typhoons “Tino” and “Uwan” hit P5.16 billion affecting 135,616 farmers who lost over 200,000 metric tons of crops planted in 117,458 hectares. The agriculture department said further damage and losses are expected in affected regions as assessment and validation are yet ongoing. The bulk of damage was from Uwan, which accounted for 76 percent of losses …

DUE to limited funding and stocks of rice to expand the target beneficiaries of the P20 per kg. rice program, the Department of Agriculture would institute stricter controls by requiring registry of beneficiaries with a QR code where they can buy the staple wherever they are. The move is intended to prevent repeat and multiple purchases of rice, as had …