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Agriculture Rebound Confirms DA Is on Right Track – Tiu Laurel

NPO

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August 8, 2025

Manila, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Wednesday that the agriculture sector’s strong second-quarter rebound reflects the effectiveness of government interventions and validates the Department of Agriculture’s long-term policy direction.

“We still have much work to do to realize President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision for a modern agricultural sector where farmers and fisherfolk fully benefit from their labor. But this result—and that of the first quarter—clearly shows we are on the right track,” Tiu Laurel said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the value of agriculture and fisheries production rose 5.7% year-on-year in the second quarter to ₱437.53 billion, a sharp turnaround from the 3.2% contraction in the same period last year. The growth was fueled by improved weather conditions and stronger crop and poultry output.

Crops remained the biggest contributor, with output rising 11.3% to ₱244.90 billion. Palay production jumped 13.9%, while corn surged 27.3%. Poultry grew 7.0% to ₱75.07 billion.

However, livestock output slipped 5.9% to ₱59.60 billion, dragged down by a 7.5% decline in hog production. Fisheries also contracted 4.2% to ₱57.96 billion.

Tiu Laurel stressed that reforms—such as adjustments to the Rice Tariffication Law, strengthened disease control measures, and investments in infrastructure, logistics, and research—are crucial to sustaining the sector’s momentum.

A stronger farm sector also supports overall economic growth. In the first quarter, when GDP expanded 5.4%, agriculture and fisheries grew 2.2%, contributing 8.3% to total growth.

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