Ultimately, this will align programs of both agencies.
On Monday, February 16 Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco signed a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) on behalf of their respective agencies.
Under the said agreement, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) aim to transform farm tourism and tighten the link between food production and the country’s travel industry.
By which, they committed that their agencies will align programs, infrastructure, and promotions—all to be done to position the Philippines as a leading food and gastronomy destination in Asia.
Under the agreement, the agencies will coordinate on expanding farm tourism destinations, promoting Filipino cuisine, and integrating agricultural priorities into tourism planning.
The alignment of Farm-to-Market Road projects with tourism circuits under the Tourism Road Infrastructure program, which will improve access to farms and emerging destinations while strengthening logistics for producers, is also part of the deal.
A Joint Technical Working Group will oversee implementation, draft work plans, and coordinate stakeholders from both sectors.
The agreement also noted that each agency will shoulder its own costs, which is under a “convergence model built on coordination rather than pooled funding,” as per the agriculture department.
Tiu Laurel noted, “This is not simply about adding tourist stops to farms, a visit that could even spur greater investment the farm sector. It is about creating stable institutional demand for local produce, encouraging value adding, and integrating agriculture into the broader services economy.”
He continued, “When hotels and restaurants source consistently from Filipino farmers, we stimulate rural investments, generate employment, and expand economic activity beyond primary production.”
The DA chief furthered that by linking agriculture to tourism, there can be higher standards in quality, food safety, and sustainability. These will then lead local producers to competing in premium markets.
Officials also emphasized that the initiative aims to turn culinary acclaim into a nationwide development strategy, “where farm productivity, infrastructure, and tourism growth reinforce one another.”