Department of Agriculture - Regulations Office

𝑨 𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅!

A seminar on the monitoring and surveillance of plant pests was successfully conducted, led by the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) - Crop Pest Management Division (BPI-CPMD), in coordination with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations (OASPR) of the Department of Agriculture - Central Office.

This seminar greatly benefited by all of the field personnel of each Regulatory Division - Monitoring and Surveillance who attended as they are directly involved in the monitoring of plant pests. This workshop aims to enhance their knowledge and skills in identification, surveillance, and management of such pests to ensure that they are adequately equipped to identify and respond to potential pest outbreaks.

Through the Office of Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations, these policies in relation to crop-pest management are directly monitored and implemented across all Regulatory Bureaus and Divisions, to ensure coordination and unity in tackling threats from agricultural pests. In this way, the integrity of the system is reinforced from field implementers to policy offices, which is essential for the safety and development of the crop sector.

📸Agri Info Davao

(A) 47th ASEAN MINISTERS ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY MEETING AND RELATED MEETINGS (AMAF) PLUS 3 and 2nd ASEAN-Japan Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Meeting SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED!

From October 2-3, the 47th ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting was successfully convened, with distinguished participation from key officials. Secretary Francisco P. Tiu-Laurel Jr. personally represented the Department of Agriculture, accompanied by officials including Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations Paz J. Benavidez II, underscoring the commitment to regional cooperation and shared progress.

The Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC 2010) and its updated Strategic Plan (MPAC 2025) serve as the guiding framework for ASEAN’s connectivity efforts. These plans drive meaningful contributions to building community ties by strengthening physical, institutional, and people-to-people connections. They also support inclusive economic growth, reduce development disparities, and promote sustainable progress across the region.

Objective 5.3 of ASEAN 2045 highlights the importance of ensuring food security and improving water resource management. Achieving this will help the region better handle crises by boosting market connections, integrating food security data, encouraging investments, providing small farmers with financial access, accelerating agricultural innovation, fostering collaboration, empowering young agricultural leaders, and focusing on efficient water management.

The Senior Agriculture Officials from ASEAN Member States (AMS) convened on the 29th of September to deliberate on the preparations and key priorities for discussion at the 47th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF).
During the Preparatory Senior Officials’ Meeting (PREP-SOM), ASEAN senior officials updated key meetings on halal food, food security, and safety standards. The Philippines supports the ASEAN Food, Agriculture & Forestry Plan (2026–2030) and Vision 2045, highlighting halal food’s role in boosting trade and food security. It also praised the ASEAN Plus Three Rice Reserve for helping provide rice during emergencies. The meeting featured presentations from key ASEAN development and institutional partners supporting food system transformation. These include ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC), Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), CropLife Asia, EU–ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, Trust Transparency Traceability (TRST01), and ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF).

Through the Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations, Atty. Paz J. Benavidez II, the Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sustainable, nature-positive, and climate-resilient food systems. She expressed gratitude for the continued cooperation among AMS in promoting regional agricultural development.

Bahagi ng pagpapatupad sa STDF-funded project grant kaugnay ng proyekto sa ilalim ng Strengthening Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), ay nakibahagi sa isang dry-run training program ng mga DA Regulatory Agencies ang Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations (OASPR) ngayong araw, ika-17 ng Setyembre, 2025. Ipinadala bilang kinatawan ni Kawaksing Kalihim Paz J. Benavidez II, ang kanyang Executive Assistant at Chief of Staff, G. Charlie G. Rivas Jr,.

Sa kanilang mensahe, ipinaabot ni Kawaksing Kalihim Benavidez na bukas ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka na makipagtulungan sa iba't ibang pampubliko at pribadong sektor upang patuloy na mapaunlad, mapataas ang uri at kapasidad ng lahat ng mga polisya ng mga ahensya sa ilalim ng DA.

📸Kuha ni Carl Angelo Celebria.

Pinaunlakan ni Kawaksing Kalihim Paz J. Benavidez II ang paanyaya ng Bureau of Plant Industry sa isinasagawa nitong 2nd Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights na nagsimula ngayong ika-16 ng Setyembre, 2025.

Sa kanyang pananalita at bilang kasalukuyang tagapanguna ng Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), ibinahagi niya, na noon ay nagkaroon ng panimulang hakbang taong 1983 sa komisyon na nagpakilala sa konsepto at halaga ng 'Farmers Rights' o Karapatan ng mga Magsasaka.

Dagdag pa niya na patuloy ang suporta ng Kagawaran sa lahat ng kontribusyon ng mga magsasaka at kababaihan, tungkol sa pagpapanatili at pangangalaga ng tinatawag na 'plant genetic resources' at lalo higit ng pagsusulong sa mga karapatan ng mga ito.

DA-Assistant Secretary Atty. Paz J. Benavidez II, who also chairs the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), emphasized that while the formal recognition of Farmers’ Rights was an important and historic step, this Symposium reminds us that much more needs to be done. Farmers’ Rights are yet to be fully realized in most regions—but we have many success stories to inspire us.

Shared during the *2nd Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights* — a call to continue advancing Farmers’ Rights worldwide.
🌍👩‍🌾👨‍🌾

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
IRRI Oxfam ICRISAT Department of Agriculture - Philippines

(091025-32)

Muling nagpulong ang lahat ng kinatawan at tagapanguna mula sa iba't ibang kawanihan at opisina ng Department of Agriculture - Philippines. para sa ika-8 General Assembly of Regulatory Agencies (GARA) kahapon, ika-3 ng Setyembre, 2025 na pinangunahan ni Katuwang na Kalihim Paz J. Benavidez II.

Isa sa tinalakay sa GARA ang tungkol sa mga pangunahing mandato ng bawat kawanihan at ang halaga ng pagtugon dito upang maging matagumpay tungkol sa Risk-Based Assessment na siyang tuwirang panawagan ng DA upang mapangasiwaan, maampatan, at mapigilan ang mga potensyal na banta ng kalusugan mula sa food chain ng bansa.

Gayundin, nagkaroon din ng pagtalakay tungkol sa DA Regulatory Roadmap na lunsaran tungo sa mas payak at episyenteng pagpoproseso ng mga serbisyo at panukala ng DA tungkol sa regulations sa hinaharap.

Ani ni Kat. na Kal Benavidez, naging makabuluhan ang pagpapaksang-usapan, sapagkat mas lalong nasambulat ang lahat ng usapin at natukoy ang mga dapat mapagusapan at maaksyunan ng bawat isang kawanihan ng DA.

Sa direktiba ni Kalihim Francisco “Kiko” Tiu-Laurel Jr., pinangunahan ni Katuwang na Kalihim Paz J. Benavidez II ng Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations, Department of Agriculture - Philippines, Central Office, ang isang pagpupulong at pagpapaksang-usapan nito lamang ika-22 ng Agosto 2025, tungkol sa pagbalangkas ng isang panukalang panuntunan at pamamaraan na magsisilbing proteksyon at gabay upang mapanatili ang ligtas na espasyo para sa mga empleyado ng kagawaran laban sa gender-based sexual harassment.

Alinsunod sa Republic Act No. 7877 o Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, at Republic Act No. 11313 o Safe Spaces Act, obligadong bumuo ng Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) ang bawat ahensya ng gobyerno, kumpanya, at institusyon na tututok sa mga kaso ng sexual harassment.

Patunay ang pagpupulong na ito na kaisa ang Department of Agriculture na mailunsad ang panukalang ito upang itaguyod ang isang ligtas na espasyo para sa mga naglilingkod sa kagawaran.

Nakiisa ang Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations (OASPR) ng Department of Agriculture sa isinagawang Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Stakeholders Workshop noong Agosto 12-13, 2025, sa Novotel Manila, Araneta, Cubao, Lungsod ng Quezon.

Pinaunlakan at personal na dumalo at nagpahayag ng suporta si Katuwang na Kalihim Paz J. Benavidez II. Sa kanyang mensahe, ipinahayag ni Kat. na Kal. Benavidez ang malinaw na mensahe sa mga dumalong pribadong sektor na parating naka-bantay ang Kagawaran sa kanilang mandato para protektahan ang kapakanan ng pampubliko at pribadong sektor.

Aniya, patuloy din ang panawagan ng DA ng isang kolektibong inisyatiba at hakbang sa pamamagitan ng malinaw na polisya, pagsubaybay at patuloy na pag-eeduka sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda at magbababoy tungkol sa Anti-Microbial Resistance.

📷 Larawan mula sa Animal Feeds, Veterinary Drugs and Biologics Control Division (AFVDBCD) ng Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) sa pahintulot ni Gg. Jay Guiang.