Six women leaders in the field of agriculture headlined the fifth installment of the Women in Agriculture Break Barriers: A Town Hall Consultation on March 27, 2025 as part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) culminating activities,
Organized annually by the DA-Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS), this year’s town hall consultation features successful women leaders who shared their humble beginnings, success stories, and words of wisdom for budding women agripreneurs in the Philippine agri-fishery sector.
Resource speakers include Esperanza Farmers Association President Jeleta Millanes, Sta. Magdalena Fisherfolk Association (SMFA) Secretary Robine Escarda, Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT) President Mary Mediatrix Villanueva, BidiBidi Enterprise Founder and Creative Director Bernadette De Los Santos, Arboleda Farm Owner Janet Arboleda, and Magsasaka Outlet Operations Head Ma. Loreta Dagui.
The women showed appreciation for the agriculture department for its various interventions and initiatives for local farmers and fisherfolk. Moreover, the women agripreneurs also noted that hard work, resourcefulness, commitment, honesty, maintaining trust and good relationships, and selflessness are keys towards successful agri-ventures.
They also pointed out the importance of engaging in sustainable and resilient agricultural practices as well as imparting agricultural knowhow across generations in order for such ventures to continue thriving.
In support of the conduct of the Town Hall Consultation, First Lady of the Philippines Marie Louise Araneta Marcos conveyed her gratitude to all women in the agriculture sector for their invaluable role in the realization of a Bagong Pilipinas—the current administration’s all-inclusive plan for national economic and social transformation.
“I extend my appreciation to the women agripreneurs who continue to inspire us with their hard work, dedication, and innovative strategies. Thank you for empowering other women to thrive in the agribusiness world,” the First Lady shared through a video message.
Senator Loren Legarda also showed support for the event, encouraging everyone to collaborate towards breaking barriers and building an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable agri-fishery sector.
“Our agriculture sector cannot reach its full potential if its women workforce is left behind or continues to face limited access to land, financing, technology, and leadership roles. We must ensure that gender equality and social inclusion are embedded in every government program. This means increasing support for women-led businesses, guaranteeing fair access to financing, technology, and markets, and investing in gender-sensitive training that promotes women’s leadership roles in agricultural governance,” Senator Legarda said in her speech as delivered by DA-Personnel Division Chief Jessamin Aranas.
In response, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured that the Department will continue striving for a gender-inclusive agriculture sector towards the realization of a Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas.
“The Department of Agriculture, with the help of its Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Gender and Development (GAD) Programs, is committed to empower women in agriculture through policies, programs, and initiatives that facilitate access to resources, markets, and training. Women in agriculture are not just essential for food security, but for driving innovation and sustainability in rural development,” the agri chief remarked in his speech, which was read by the Head of the DA-GFPS Secretariat and DA-GESI Director Annray Rivera.
“As we continue to champion women’s leadership in agriculture, it is crucial that we work together to remove the remaining barriers and create an environment where all women can thrive. Let us also reflect on how we can contribute to a more inclusive and supportive ecosystem for women agripreneurs. The future of agriculture depends on women taking leadership roles and shaping the sector with their creativity and expertise,” Secretary Tiu Laurel added.
Serving as reactors were United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) Deputy Country Director Dipayan Bhattacharyya, UN WFP Smallholder Agricultural Market Support Murakami Toshio, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Supervising GAD Specialist Elizabeth Omas-as, World Vision Development Foundation Economic Development Specialist Rose Margaret Ringor, and Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) Country Director Ma. Angela Primitiva Bautista. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)
