Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (seated, center) with Isabela Province Delegation, led by Atty. Cyrus Restauro, Acting DTI Provincial Director (seated, 3rd from left), during the courtesy call on 02 September 2025 at the Embassy of the Philippines in Japan.

TOKYO, 09 September 2025 – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Isabela, joined by representatives of the Isabela Provincial Government and the Department of Agriculture, undertook a business mission to Japan to highlight the province’s agricultural strengths and explore new export opportunities in one of the world’s most discerning food markets.

The delegation, headed by Atty. Cyrus Restauro, Acting Provincial Director, embarked on a series of study visits to a dairy farm, milk factory, and farmers market in Minamimaki-mura, Nagano Prefecture, as well as a leading meat market in Tokyo. These visits offered first-hand insights into Japan’s world-class food safety standards, cutting-edge agricultural technologies, and consumer preferences.

As part of its mission, the group paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, who lauded the delegation for its efforts to expand the horizons of Isabela’s farmers and producers.

Ambassador Garcia-Albano (seated, 2nd from left) and the Isabela Delegation during the courtesy call on Mayor Yoshito Arisaka (seated, 2nd from right) of Minamimaki-mura on 03 September 2025.

Ambassador Garcia-Albano (in white) with Filipino farmers working at Minamimaki Farm, Nagano

Ambassador Garcia-Albano (in red) with Agriculture Attaché Alilia Maghirang (2nd from left) with Filipino farmers (in blue) working at Minamimaki Farm, Nagano

The Embassy’s Economic Team further equipped the group with a market briefing on export prospects, sharing practical tips on how to meet Japan’s strict food safety requirements and strategies to capture Japanese consumers’ attention.

The delegation proudly showcased a wide array of fresh and processed food products from the province. Among these, the Embassy identified cacao, coffee, and coconut as particularly promising products with surging demand in Japan.

Isabela Province is the largest province in Luzon, the Philippines’ main island, and one of the country’s most important agricultural hubs. Often called the “Rice Granary of the North,” it produces much of the Philippines’ rice and corn. The province has also embraced modern agro-industrial practices and has become a hub for bioethanol production. With Isabela’s fertile lands and entrepreneurial farmers, the Isabela Provincial Government is positioning the province as a key supplier of high-quality agricultural products.

Various products produced from Isabela were presented to the Ambassador during a business mission to Japan by officials from the provincial government.

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