DA says selling onions direct to buyers to stabilize prices

To realize the administration’s food security targets, the Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) said Wednesday it will secure direct transportation links between onion growers and buyers.

In a statement, the DA said this is part of efforts to improve the logistics in the country’s agricultural value chain under the leadership of President and concurrent Agriculture chief Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to stabilize the prices of on- ion in the retail markets and help farmers increase their income, the Department of Agriculture, through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, has strengthened its direct market linkage initiatives,” the DA said.

The agency said the initiative is set to benefit both the market vendors

DTI chief hopeful of GSP+ renewal

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Secretary Alfredo and institutional buyers.

Pascual is optimistic about the possible renewal of the Generalized System of Preference Plus (GSP+) trade agreement with the European Union (EU) following a recent meeting with EU lawmakers.

In an interview with journalists on Wednesday, Pascual said the meeting was “a very productive” one and among the topics that were discussed include the country’s obligations with regards to labor, human rights, environment and governance.

The DA added it is also working closely with its regional counterparts to address problems with transportation.

This included the utilization of Kadiwa delivery trucks to help farmers in the logistics.

“In Nueva Ecija, the

“And I explained that it doesn’t require EU obligation for us to follow the principles that they are looking for because our own Philippine government and Philippine agencies are very much aware of the principles and we are signatory to a number of international conventions already,” he said at the sidelines of the formal opening of Mega Prime Foods Inc.’s (MPFI) state-of-the-art and worldclass manufacturing facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

The trade deal will expire by end-2023.

Pascual said the government has always promoted governance and has a major program aimed at addressing governance issues and promoting the digital transformation of government processes.

“I told them with or without the requirements of EU, we are observing the principles that they are interested in,” he said, adding “I think I got a good feedback from them on my statement.”

Pascual said that with the bid to elevate the country to an upper middle-income country, there is a need to secure the renewal of GSP+ because the Philippines will not be eligible to that trade deal anymore once its status has been changed.