AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed optimism with some caution in the country's food production outlook this year, highlighting positive trends in the third quarter but expressing concerns for the last quarter.
Admitting that agricultural output contracted in the second quarter due to the El Niño climate effect, Tiu Laurel also mentioned potential problems in the coming three months.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Photo from Department of Agriculture