Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry’s (DA-BPI) Founding Anniversary celebration with the theme, “Thrive @95: Innovating for Climate Resiliency Towards Food and Nutrition Security,” on January 22, 2025 at Malate, Manila.
The celebration highlighted the DA-BPI’s enduring commitment to advancing agricultural innovation, food security, and sustainability for the benefit of Filipino communities.
“Today, we celebrate the 95th anniversary of the Bureau of Plant Industry and reflect on a simple truth about plants: growth requires time, care, and vision. Just as we nurture crops, the Bureau has transformed from a single seed of purpose into an institution of innovation, service, and progress,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said.
To mark the event, the BPI launched six key technologies and programs designed to address climate-resilient agriculture and showcased its achievements and milestones through a comprehensive exhibit featuring contributions from its various divisions and research centers.
The bureau also presented its Research and Development Agenda for 2025–2030, the Common Urban and Peri-Urban Crop Pests and Diseases Management Guide, Information and Communication Technology System for the Implementation of the New Rice Tariffication Law or the RiceUp, and the Pagkalinga Program: “Pagkain Panglahat, Ligtas at Sapat Dapat”.
“As we celebrate the Bureau’s milestone, we also plant seeds for the future. What harvest do we envision for the next generation? Beyond sustaining, we must transform,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said.
“This transformation calls for modernization through advanced technologies and practices, the adoption of controlled environment agriculture to optimize productivity, and the preservation and utilization of plant genetic resources to ensure biodiversity,” he added.
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to ensuring food availability, safety, and affordability, DA-BPI unveiled its first permanent Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) facility to strengthen community access to agricultural produce by connecting local producers directly to consumers.
The BPI Crop Research and Production Support Division (CRPSD) Multi-purpose Seed Storage Facility (Phase 1) was also inaugurated during the event. It will serve as a facility for preserving genetic diversity, maintaining the quality and longevity of plant genetic resources, and supporting research and conservation efforts for crops and mushroom strains.
Secretary Tiu Laurel was joined by Assistant Secretaries Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra and Joycel R. Panlilio, DA-BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban, DA-National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator and former DA-BPI Director Larry Lacson, and DA-BPI Assistant Directors Herminigilda Gabertan and Ruel Gesmundo.
The event was also attended by local government officials, representatives of foreign embassies in the Philippines, and private sector stakeholders who are partners of the BPI. ### (Kristel Joyce Merle, DA-AFID)
