Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said a bigger budget would be allocated for the expansion of the tissue culture laboratory and biocontrol agents facility in Laguna as he emphasized the role of science to unlocking higher yields, empowering small farmers to export their exports, and cutting the country’s heavy reliance on imported crops.
Speaking during the June 26, 2026 inauguration of the newly rehabilitated tissue culture laboratory and biocontrol agents facility at the Bureau of Plant Industry–Los Baños National Crop Research, Development, and Production Support Center, the DA chief called the improvements “a solid step toward long-term food security.”
Tiu-Laurel said that the rehabilitated facility is not enough to support the goals for farmers. He vowed to do something to increase the budget for the expansion of the facility. The DA already spent P6 million for the two science facilities, which aligns with the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for modern agricultural sector and a food-secure Philippines.
The upgraded lab houses cultures of banana, ube, garlic, white potato, and other high-value crops. Equipped with modern tools for mass propagation, the facility aims to provide farmers with healthy, high-yielding planting materials—essential for boosting farm productivity and maintaining stable supply chains.
Tiu Laurel also underscored the urgent need to reduce the country’s dependency on imported garlic and ginger, noting that 95 percent of garlic in the market is imported. “Even halving that importation would be a major win,” he said.
He also spotlighted ube as a potential star in the export market. “Ube is something we can proudly call our own. When it comes to ube-based products, I think we’re among the best in the world.”
Alongside the tissue lab, the upgraded biocontrol agents facility—funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research—seeks to promote more sustainable, chemical-free farming by improving pest and disease management. This is seen as crucial in improving resilience against climate and market shocks.
Joining the DA chief were BPI Director Glenn Panganiban, incoming Los Baños Mayor Neil Andrew Nocon, and DA Region IV-A Director Fidel Libao, who also took part in the opening of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlet at the site, where they monitored the sale of rice priced at P20 per kilo.
“Science, scale, and smallholder support must work together,” Tiu Laurel added. “That’s how we build a stronger agricultural future.”
