As the Department of Agriculture (DA) celebrates its 127th anniversary, it carries with it its continued and strong coordinated efforts with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), anchored in the DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.’s vision of “modernizing Philippine agriculture to spread benefits across the entire value chain.”
A notable milestone brought by this close coordination was the expansion of market access, where the BPI initiated a phytosanitary collaboration. This demonstrated how effective regulatory cooperation can open new opportunities for Filipino farmers. From 2023 to 2025, the Philippines achieved notable market access gains for its agricultural products, including China for fresh and frozen durian; South Korea and Japan for Hass avocado; Australia, Lebanon, Mongolia, and Italy for fresh mangoes; Germany for pili nuts (in shell and kernel); Malaysia and Egypt for fresh durian; Poland for pomelo; New Zealand for frozen durian and the recommencement of fresh mango access; and Russia for fresh Hass avocado, calamansi, and okra. This is correlated to the Secretary Tiu Laurel’s agenda of providing an improved and expanded market access.
In support of the DA’s intensified campaign against agricultural smuggling, BPI plays an active role in intercepting smuggled agricultural commodities and conducting regular monitoring and inspection of storage facilities. These efforts aim to prevent the entry of plant pests and diseases and ensure food safety, protecting both consumers and the livelihood of Filipino farmers.
Another highlight in 2025 was the launch of the BPI Kadiwa Center in Malate, Manila, offering affordable and fresh produce, including well-milled rice through the Rice for All Program, initially priced at P45/kg and later adjusted to P35/kg. A separate P20/kg rice initiative also supported low-income communities, which also ensures a steady supply of rice while stabilizing retail prices and curbing price manipulation. Directly aligning to Sec. Kiko’s agenda of maintain of a strong partnership with farmers and private sectors and develop efficient logistics system.
As part of its mandate on food safety, BPI has strengthened and expanded its services by deploying a Mobile Food Safety Laboratory to provide on-site testing for pesticide residues, chemical and microbial contaminants, promoting consumer protection, enhancing market competitiveness, and ensuring that farmers’ produce meets both local and international safety standards.
Integral to building a resilient and productive agriculture sector, ensuring that farmers have access to quality planting materials, reliable support services, BPI implemented a range of initiatives that balance its developmental and regulatory functions. These include conducting information caravans to raise awareness on plant material certification and nursery accreditation, organizing seed production seminars to capacitate farmers and stakeholders, and enhancing BPI’s own laboratories and facilities for more efficient testing and quality control.
Together, the DA and BPI’s initiatives have brought measurable gains across the agriculture sector. These collective efforts mark a year of meaningful progress, laying a stronger foundation for a more resilient and inclusive Philippine agriculture. As the DA celebrates its 127th founding anniversary, we at BPI extend our heartfelt greetings to all its dedicated officials, employees, and partners across the country. The DA’s unwavering commitment to uplifting Filipino farmers, protecting consumers, ensuring food security, and building a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive agriculture sector remains at the heart of its mission.
Mabuhay ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka.
