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The Agriculture and Tourism departments signed a wide-ranging agreement to boost the agri-tourism sector, expand ties between producers and tourism establishments, and strengthen logistics for farmers
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DA secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said linking agriculture to tourism incentivizes higher standards in quality, food safety, and sustainability, positioning local producers to compete in premium markets
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A key feature of the partnership is the alignment of farm-to-market road projects with tourism circuits to improve access while strengthening logistics for producers
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A Joint Technical Working Group will be formed to oversee implementation, draft work plans, and coordinate stakeholders from both sectors
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Tourism (DoT) signed a wide-ranging memorandum of agreement to boost the agri-tourism sector, expand ties between producers and tourism establishments, and strengthen logistics for farmers.
DA secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. described the agreement as a “structural intervention” for the agriculture industry.
“This is not simply about adding tourist stops to farms,” Tiu-Laurel said in a statement. “It is about creating stable institutional demand for local produce, encouraging value adding, and integrating agriculture into the broader services economy.”
“When hotels and restaurants source consistently from Filipino farmers, we stimulate rural investments, generate employment, and expand economic activity beyond primary production,” he added.
He noted that linking agriculture to tourism also incentivizes higher standards in quality, food safety, and sustainability, positioning local producers to compete in premium markets.
A key feature of the partnership is the alignment of farm-to-market road projects with tourism circuits under the Tourism Road Infrastructure program to improve access to farms and emerging destinations while strengthening logistics for producers.
READ: DA orders registration of all logistics facilities handling agri goods
Tiu-Laurel signed the agreement with Tourism secretary Christina Frasco on February 16, with both departments committing to align programs, infrastructure, and promotions to position the Philippines as a leading food and gastronomy destination in Asia.
A Joint Technical Working Group will be formed to oversee implementation, draft work plans, and coordinate stakeholders from both sectors.
The agreement is anchored on existing national policies, including the Tourisms Act of 2009 that promotes agri-tourism and countryside development; the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016 that declares farm tourism a key strategy for sustainable rural growth; and the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 which tasks the DA with modernizing agriculture and fisheries to raise income and productivity.
READ: DA establishes Agricultural and Fisheries Logistics Office to streamline supply chain
