Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. met the Pakistani delegation on January 22, 2026 in Makati City. The visiting delegation expressed strong interest in supplying rice to the Philippines, citing surplus production in Pakistan. While welcoming the offer, the agriculture chief stressed that any imports would be carefully calibrated to domestic needs as the country continues to work toward rice self-sufficiency.
Pakistan’s proposal comes as Manila reviews its sourcing strategy to avoid overdependence on a single supplier. The agriculture secretary underscored that rice imports would remain a supplement, not a substitute, to domestic output.
Beyond rice, the talks explored two-way trade opportunities in both agricultural and non-agricultural products. Tiu Laurel said Pakistan has requirements for Indian buffalo meat, while expressing openness to importing more Philippine products. These include coconuts, seaweeds, fish, and other agricultural commodities where the Philippines has a competitive edge. ### (Photos by Darrel Gultia, DA-OSEC Comms)
