DA seeks P500-M foreign assistance for test facilities

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap is working on securing P500 million in assistance from various international donors to help fund the Department of Agriculture’s program to put up and acquire laboratory and testing equipment and facilities in various parts of the country.

In an interview with The STAR, Yap revealed that he is meeting with international donor representatives this week to seek up to P500 million in funding to acquire laboratory and testing equipment and to put up testing facilities in various parts of the country to enable local agricultural products to meet international phytosanitary requirements.

Yap said the DA itself is prepared to allocate up to P100 million for the required 10-percent to 15-percent counterpart funding (P50 million to P75 million) for the foreign assistance.

He added the DA has already taken steps to improve the country’s laboratory and testing facilities with the release of P20 million for testing equipment in Mindanao. Yap has repeatedly stressed that Philippine agricultural products are ready to compete in the world market.

However, Yap said the country cannot compete if it does not meet the necessary phytosanitary requirements and standard protocols.

Having the necessary laboratory and testing equipment and facilities at the point of production would facilitate the processing of agricultural products instead of having to send off samples to accredited laboratories which adds to the cost of exporters and also results in delays in the shipment of perishable agricultural, fruit and marine products.

At least one neighbor, Taiwan has already offered assistance to the Manila Economic Cooperation Office (MECO) to put up testing facilities for agricultural produce.

Taiwan has repeatedly expressed interest in importing Philippine agricultural products and marine resources.