THE Philippines will appreciate the lowering of tariffs for its banana exports to Japan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.
Last week, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. flew with a Philippine delegation to Japan, meeting with its new Agriculture Minister, as well as the senior vice president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss agriculture, fisheries and food security cooperation.
Aside from lower banana tariffs, Tiu Laurel also asked for new market access for pomelos, faster entry for Japanese grapes and enhanced protocols for mango, papaya and poultry from regions free from Avian influenza or bird flu.
The Philippines is preparing to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal between several states.
In 2025, the country was declared eligible for membership and proceeded with its application this year.
The Philippines and Japan previously established a Joint Committee on Agriculture through a memorandum of cooperation. The committee aims to support sustainable farming, smart agriculture, technology transfer and postharvest modernization as part of efforts to achieve food security.
During his visit to Japan, Tiu Laurel proposed expanding the agreement to include fisheries. Japan was amenable and offered to host the second PH-Japan Joint Agriculture Committee meeting this year.
Tiu Laurel is hopeful that the amended agreement will be signed this year, the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Grant for rice processing system
The DA chief also secured a Japan grant aid for a rice processing system (RPS) for a National Food Authority facility in Cauayan City, Isabela. It will be signed this month for immediate implementation.
The RPS consists of four 30-metric-ton grain dryers, a rice mill with a 10-ton-per-hour capacity and four 1,000-ton-capacity silos. The facility will help improve rice quality, reduce postharvest losses and maintain buffer stocks, the DA said.
Tiu Laurel likewise asked JICA’s support for priority projects, including the establishment of integrated food logistics hubs, rehabilitation of the Magat Dam, expansion of the market-driven vegetable value chain project, conducting of a nationwide study on basic commodity distribution, as well as the modernization of small-scale fisheries.
Tiu Laurel, along with Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III and La Union Gov. Mario Eduardo Ortega, observed grains, fish and meat logistics hubs in Japan to serve as models for modernization initiatives in the Philippines.
The visit reflects the country’s commitment to fostering deeper agriculture relations with Japan as an important market for Philippine exports and a global leader in agri-fisheries technology.
