By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

The National Food Authority (NFA) is embarking on a ₱184-million modernization of its grain quality testing system to reduce postharvest losses and strengthen the country’s food security.

In a statement on Monday, June 29, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the NFA will upgrade its institutional capacity in postharvest processing through an enhanced Product Quality Evaluation System (PQuEST).

Tiu Laurel, who chairs the NFA Council, noted that the agency has secured a ₱124-million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to help operationalize the program. The Philippine government will provide an additional ₱59.8 million in counterpart funding.

Through PQuEST, Tiu Laurel said the NFA’s upgraded testing capabilities will make postharvest management more efficient, ensuring better-quality grains and higher earnings for farmers.

“By modernizing the NFA’s laboratories and adopting science-based testing systems, we are equipping the agency with better tools to protect grain quality, support sound policymaking, and enhance the competitiveness of our agriculture sector,” Tiu Laurel said.

The program covers the rehabilitation of laboratory facilities at the NFA Central Office in Quezon City, as well as regional laboratories in Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and the Davao Region. These offices will be equipped with modern testing instruments and updated grain quality assessment protocols, supported by standardized operating manuals.

PQuEST also includes workforce development initiatives, enabling technical personnel to undergo local and overseas training to improve grain quality evaluation across the NFA.

Additionally, the program is expected to improve the varietal screening of new grain strains and support the development of more suitable grain-handling and evaluation technologies.

“This project goes beyond modern equipment. It strengthens our technical capability, promotes knowledge transfer, and helps build a more resilient and efficient grain management system that will benefit Filipino farmers and consumers,” Tiu Laurel added. (Dexter Barro II)

Published Date: June 29, 2026