Philippine Agriculture Secretary Seeks Improved Market Access For Philippine Agricultural Products in Japan
Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu Laurel (leftmost) engages with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Norikazu Suzuki to discuss opportunities to boost agricultural cooperation between the Philippines and Japan.
TOKYO, 06 February 2026 – Philippine Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. led an official mission to Japan on 26-29 January 2026 to promote improved market access of key Philippine agricultural exports, and to exchange best practices on agri-fisheries modernization and enhancement of food security.
In his meeting with Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) Norikazu SUZUKI on 29 January 2026, Secretary Tiu Laurel sought Japan’s support for the Philippines’ bid for the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) accession and underscored the shared interest in ensuring a level playing field for Philippine bananas in the Japanese market.
The Secretary also reiterated the Philippines’ request for market access for pomelos and poultry products from avian flu-free areas of the Philippines, through Japan’s recognition of regionalization.
Secretary of Agriculture Tiu Laurel (seated, 3rd from right) and the delegation of the Department of Agriculture calls on Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (seated, 4th from left), accompanied by Isabela Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III (seated, 3rd from left), La Union Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega (seated, 2nd from right), First Secretary and Consul Alvin C. Malasig (standing, leftmost), and Agriculture Attache Aleli G. Maghirang (seated, 2nd from left) at the Philippine Embassy in Japan.
Minister Suzuki confirmed that Japan will host the second Joint Committee on Agriculture (JCA) Meeting this year. Secretary Tiu-Laurel, in turn, expressed hope that a revised Memorandum of Cooperation on Agriculture, inclusive of fisheries cooperation, will be signed within the year in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the normalization of Philippines-Japan diplomatic relations.
Minister Suzuki expressed keen interest in deepening cooperation in agri-fisheries, not only bilaterally but also within the ASEAN framework under the MIDORI Cooperation Plan, and expressed Japan’s interest in advancing cooperation on rice. He acknowledged the need to strengthen agricultural resilience in typhoon-prone areas of the Philippines and introduced potential areas of collaboration involving new technologies, including rainfall location control and indoor vertical farming.
During the visit, Secretary Tiu Laurel called on Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Vice President Yuho HAYAKAWA to discuss Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) projects supporting food security and agri-fisheries modernization in the Philippines. Secretary Tiu Laurel announced that he received special authority to sign the Grant Agreement for the Rice Postharvest Modernization in the Philippines for the establishment of a rice processing system in support of the buffer stocking program in Cauayan City, Isabela. The project grant agreement is expected to be signed in February 2026 for immediate implementation.
Secretary of Agriculture Tiu Laurel (seated, 2nd from left) and the delegation of the Department of Agriculture calls on JICA Senior Vice President Yuho Hayakawa, together with Ambassador Garcia-Albano (standing, 7th from left), Governor Albano (standing, 6th from left), First Secretary and Consul Malasig (standing, 2nd from left), and Agriculture Attache Maghirang (standing, 5th from left) at the JICA Head Office.
Secretary Tiu Laurel likewise sought support from JICA for the Philippines’ priority agriculture projects, including food logistics hubs in strategic areas with food integrated systems, deep-water ports for fish and agri-industrial products, and the modernization of small fishing industries. He also expressed hope for the continuation of JICA’s technical cooperation project on the market-driven enhancement of vegetable value chains (MV2C) in the Philippines.
Secretary Tiu Laurel’s delegation was assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Japan led by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, and the Philippine Consulate General in Nagoya led by Consul General Shirlene Mananquil.
Secretary Tiu Laurel’s visit to Japan benchmarked on the successful establishment and operations of food logistics hubs in Japan for grains and marine and meat products, which are considered as models for the priority initiatives and projects of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to enhance food security and agri-fisheries modernization, and explore opportunities for private investments and close partnerships with local governments towards inclusive prosperity and closer cooperation between the Philippines and Japan. In particular, the delegation examined the best practices at the Chita Futo Grains Food Logistics Hub in Aichi , the Yaizu Fish Port in Shizuoka, and the Tokyo Wholesale Meat Market.
Secretary of Agriculture Tiu Laurel (5th from left) Consul General Mananquil (2nd from left) and Agriculture Attache Maghirang (4th from left) inspecting the Chita Futo Grains Food Logistics Hub in Aichi.
