To strengthen the collective bargaining position of the ASEAN and expand products that are exported to international markets, the Philippines, represented by Agriculture Secretary William Dar, joined other member-states in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on October 15, 2019 in Brunei Darussalam.

The MOU pushes for a promotion scheme that will enable products from ASEAN member-states to strategically position them on matters affecting trade in the international market and ensure that ASEAN products are being produced through sustainable means.

For the Philippines, the products that will be covered by the promotion scheme are seaweed and seaweed-based products (food grade and non-food grade); and coconut (coconut oil, copra meal, desiccated coconut, Oleo chemicals, Virgin Coconut Oil, coir fiber, coconut milk and cream, activated carbon, coco shell charcoal, and coconut water).

The Philippine agriculture products were finalized during the ASEAN Joint Committee on Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme represented by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) of the Department of Agriculture.

Other products of other ASEAN member-states that are included in the promotion scheme are: cocoa and and Palm oil (Malaysia); coffee (Vietnam); peas and beans (Myanmar); pepper, tea, and tuna (Indonesia); and tapioca and sericulture (Thailand). ### (Rita T. dela Cruz, DA Communications Group)