Manila: The National Food Authority (NFA) has secured PHP184.2-million project funding for grain testing upgrades, with backing from the Japanese government, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday. Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will provide a grant of PHP124.4 million, while the Philippine government will shoulder PHP59.8 million in counterpart funding.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the initiative will help enhance the NFA's testing capabilities and advance the country's food security. Tiu Laurel emphasized that food security is not solely about production but also about preserving quality from harvest to market.

The three-year project aims to modernize the NFA's institutional capacity in grains postharvest processing through an enhanced Product Quality Evaluation System (PQuEST). Tiu Laurel noted that by modernizing the NFA's laboratories and adopting science-based testing systems, the agency will be equipped with better tools to protect grain quality, support policymaking, and enhance the competitiveness of the agriculture sector.

The program will upgrade laboratory facilities at the NFA Central Office and regional laboratories in Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and the Davao Region. New testing instruments will be provided alongside the overhaul of current grain quality assessment protocols. The project will also cover new testing standards and operating manuals for 22 laboratory equipment units.

Tiu Laurel expressed his satisfaction with Tokyo's support, highlighting that the project strengthens technical capability, promotes knowledge transfer, and builds a more resilient and efficient grain management system benefiting Filipino farmers and consumers. In terms of workforce development, technical personnel will undergo local and overseas training, including specialized courses in Japan focused on rice quality assessment and in Thailand for corn testing technologies.

Knowledge gained from the training programs will be disseminated to branch offices nationwide for standardized grain quality evaluation. The program implementation is set from 2026 to 2028 pending Executive Committee approval.