DA Attachés drive successes abroad for Philippine agriculture

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has marked a series of significant achievements in 2024 with the help of agricultural attachés stationed around the world. These accomplishments have bolstered the Philippines’ agricultural exports, fostered new international partnerships, and opened up new opportunities for local farmers and fisherfolks, investors, and businesses.

“These milestones, which secured tens of billions of pesos in export sales, would support our farm and fishery sector and at least help narrow our agricultural trade deficit. Our attaches also strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations, benefiting millions of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.

In Thailand, DA attaché Annalyn Lopez played a key role in securing market access for four Philippine fishery establishments to export to Vietnam. She also assisted market expansion for Philippine durian in Malaysia and the country’s participation in the prestigious Thaifex ANUGA 2024 trade show, where P1.5 billion in sales were booked, with P3.5 billion in additional potential sales. Lopez was also instrumental in DA’s signing of two Memoranda of Understanding with Vietnam and a Letter of Intent with Brunei, advancing bilateral agricultural relations. She also pursued the implementation of cooperation projects with Thailand focusing on rainmaking technology and agricultural cooperatives.

In China, DA Counsellor Jerome Bunyi was pivotal in the Philippines’ successful participation at the China International Import Expo, where 17 exhibitors generated an estimated USD1.6 billion in sales and sales pledges. Popular Filipino products like bananas, durian, pineapples, and coconuts saw strong demand, highlighting continued global interest in Philippine agricultural goods.

Belgium-based DA attaché Nolet Fulgencio reported Post’s achievement in securing market access for Philippine pili nuts in the European Union in 2023 and will be working with BFAR on facilitating the listing of Philippine sardine species for export to the EU. She also organized key meetings to update stakeholders and DA officials on EU regulations and will continue to promote Filipino