Latest news with #TiuLaurel
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DA: Deadline extended for issuance of fish, seafood import permits
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it had extended the deadline for the issuance of fish and seafood import permits to the end of June for the period covering March to May this year. In a statement, the DA said the move was meant to give importers more time to adjust to its importing guidelines, which were aimed at easing food inflation and improving allocation efficiency. Early this year, the Agriculture Department approved the importation of up to 25,000 metric tons of fish and seafood—primarily for the food service, tourism, and hospitality industries. This was amid President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive for the DA to 'rationalize' fish importation to stabilize supply and prices for the tourism and high-end food sectors. The DA, however, said that only about a quarter of the approved volume has been brought into the country so far. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. attributed the low uptake to overly tight importation timelines and sourcing constraints. 'It's more of a systemic issue than low demand,' said the Agriculture chief. 'The timeframes we set were too short, and many of the approved products were out of season in their countries of origin. It was also challenging for some importers to meet requirements tied to larger volume allocations,' he added. The DA's approved list of imports includes a wide range of species—from salmon, cod, and tuna by-products to squid, scallops, octopus, and lobster—'none of which are locally sourced in sufficient quantities.' 'The only exception to the import list is sardines,' said Tiu Laurel. 'We allowed sardine imports because it was off-season in some of our local fishing grounds, and sardines are the most affordable fish available to help address inflation concerns.' Importers accredited under Fisheries Administrative Order 195 and those registered under FAO 259 are eligible for fish import allocations through the Certificate of Necessity to Import, which permits importation during the closed fishing season. FAO 195 covers the importation of fresh, chilled, or frozen fish and aquatic products, while FAO 259 applies specifically to imports for wet markets during the closed season. With the policy adjustments in place, Tiu Laurel has expressed confidence that the remaining import volume would be fully utilized. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DA: Deadline extended for issuance of fish, seafood import permits DA: Deadline extended for issuance of fish, seafood import permits
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it had extended the deadline for the issuance of fish and seafood import permits to the end of June for the period covering March to May this year. In a statement, the DA said the move was meant to give importers more time to adjust to its importing guidelines, which were aimed at easing food inflation and improving allocation efficiency. Early this year, the Agriculture Department approved the importation of up to 25,000 metric tons of fish and seafood—primarily for the food service, tourism, and hospitality industries. This was amid President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive for the DA to 'rationalize' fish importation to stabilize supply and prices for the tourism and high-end food sectors. The DA, however, said that only about a quarter of the approved volume has been brought into the country so far. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. attributed the low uptake to overly tight importation timelines and sourcing constraints. 'It's more of a systemic issue than low demand,' said the Agriculture chief. 'The timeframes we set were too short, and many of the approved products were out of season in their countries of origin. It was also challenging for some importers to meet requirements tied to larger volume allocations,' he added. The DA's approved list of imports includes a wide range of species—from salmon, cod, and tuna by-products to squid, scallops, octopus, and lobster—'none of which are locally sourced in sufficient quantities.' 'The only exception to the import list is sardines,' said Tiu Laurel. 'We allowed sardine imports because it was off-season in some of our local fishing grounds, and sardines are the most affordable fish available to help address inflation concerns.' Importers accredited under Fisheries Administrative Order 195 and those registered under FAO 259 are eligible for fish import allocations through the Certificate of Necessity to Import, which permits importation during the closed fishing season. FAO 195 covers the importation of fresh, chilled, or frozen fish and aquatic products, while FAO 259 applies specifically to imports for wet markets during the closed season. With the policy adjustments in place, Tiu Laurel has expressed confidence that the remaining import volume would be fully utilized. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
NFA to ship 35,000 bags of rice to Cebu for P20/kilo program
The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to ship some 35,000 bags of rice from San Jose, Oriental Mindoro to Cebu, where they will be sold for P20 per kilogram, as part of the pilot implementation of the government's program aimed to lower prices of rice in the country. According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the latest shipment is part of the 100,000 50-kilo sacks ordered by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia for distribution in the province. The first batch of 35,000 bags arrived three weeks ago. '(T)his effort is about more than just bringing down prices — it is about recognizing and supporting the people who make it possible,' Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who also chairs the NFA Council, said in a statement. 'By clearing space in our NFA warehouses, we are making room to buy more palay from you, our beloved farmers. Here in Mindoro, a vital rice-producing province in Southern Tagalog, you deserve not just recognition, but fair prices that truly reflect your hard work and sacrifice,' he added. The NFA buys fresh palay or unmilled rice from farmers at P18 per kilo, and up to P24 per kilo for dry palay. This compares with the P13.50 to P18.00 per kilo buying price of private traders, against an estimated production cost of P12 to P14 per kilo. The rice shipments are then sent to local governments and Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita (KADIWA) Centers of the DA to be sold to indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities at P20 per kilo. 'This subsidized rice program is for every Filipino family striving to put food on the table—and for every farmer who rises before dawn, rain or shine, to feed the nation. Thank you. You are the heartbeat of this program, and the reason it has meaning,' Tiu Laurel said. Tiu Laurel in January said the NFA is set to buy at least 300,000 metric tons of rice this year, with optimism that the country will hit a record for palay production. Under its mandate, the NFA is tasked to maintain sufficient rice buffer stocks to be sourced mainly from local farmers. The agency, for its part, said it is also mandated to keep and dispose of 99.9% of stocks in good and consumable condition. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DA to expand scope of P20-per-kilo rice, eyes reaching 14M Pinoys by September
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it is set to broaden the scope of the pilot test for the P20-per-kilo rice initiative as it eyes to reach up to 14 million Filipinos by September. In a news release, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the second phase of the pilot program will target Mindanao provinces with high poverty incidence. 'On top of the list for the second phase, which begins in July, is Zamboanga del Norte, with a poverty incidence of 37.7%. Also included are Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental, Sorsogon, and Maguindanao del Norte,' Tiu Laurel said. For the third phase, which will begin in September, the program will be expanded to Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani, and Dinagat Islands. The expanded pilot test for the P20-per-kilo rice initiative is seen to cover more than 3.3 million households or 14 million Filipinos. The program, initially launched on May 1 as a pilot program in select Visayan areas, has been expanded to include regions in Luzon and Mindanao. The pilot was intended to collect critical data for efficiently operationalizing the program. It is scheduled to run until December. The subsidized rice to be sold is sourced from the National Food Authority (NFA) —which currently has an inventory equivalent to around eight million 50-kilo bags of milled rice. Tiu Laurel said he has directed the NFA to ensure the quality of rice to be distributed, especially to remote and island provinces. Under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, only members of vulnerable sectors—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents—are eligible to buy NFA rice at P20 per kilo. The rice sold in KADIWA centers is subsidized by the government through the Food Terminal Inc. For programs where local government units (LGUs) share the subsidy, it will be up to the LGUs to determine eligibility. The limit is 30 kilos per household. The DA chief said the agency is aiming to sustain the program until the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term in June 2028, potentially covering up to 15 million households—or approximately 60 million Filipinos. This expansion underscores the government's commitment to making rice more affordable and accessible to all, he said. —NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
PH bans poultry products from Brazil
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Philippine government would impose a ban on importing poultry meat from Brazil which was hit by cases of bird flu. Tiu Laurel made the announcement during a Palace press briefing on Monday. A Reuters report said that Brazil, the world's largest chicken exporter, confirmed its first outbreak of bird flu on a poultry farm on Friday. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
