Arnel de Mesa

Arnel de Mesa is an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Agriculture in the Philippines, known for his role in managing and reporting on rice production and food security initiatives. He has been instrumental in supporting President Marcos's P20 per kilogram rice program and ensuring stable rice prices despite recent weather challenges. De Mesa also advocates for legislative measures like House Bill 1 to enhance regulatory powers for lowering rice prices and protecting farmers.

This is an AI-generated summary based on recent coverage.
Last updated at August 2, 2025.

Recent stories about Arnel de Mesa

PHP1.12B agrilosses, PHP1.2B aid from trop cyclones

About 45,408 farmers and fishers have been affected by tropical cyclones Emong, Dante, Crising, and the enhanced southwest monsoon in various regions of the Philippines.
Read full story

DA: Rice prices stable despite storm damage

The Department of Agriculture assured the public on Saturday that agricultural product prices are expected to remain stable despite the impact of tropical storms Crising, Dante, Emong, and southwest monsoon.
Read full story

Tawilis demand drops due to human remains concerns

The demand for tawilis from Taal Lake has declined due to concerns over human remains found in the lake and ongoing searches for missing cockfighting enthusiasts.
Read full story

Palay prices drop below P13; farmers urge gov't support

Local farmers are experiencing significant losses due to a sharp decline in palay prices, dropping as low as P8 per kilo in some regions and below production costs of around P13 per kilo.
Read full story

DA, Palace warn traders: No lowering farm buys due to BBM Na

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Malacañang warned rice traders against using the government’s 'Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na' program as justification for reducing their buying prices from farmers.
Read full story

DA assures stable rice supply, prices despite lean months

The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured Filipinos of a stable rice supply and retail prices despite approaching lean months.
Read full story

DA, DOLE include min wage earners in PHP20/kg rice program

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) agreed to include minimum wage earners in the PHP20 per kilogram rice program called 'Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na', with an initial 120,000 beneficiaries selected for the pilot phase.
Read full story

DA recommends retaining 15% rice tariff to stabilize prices

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recommended retaining a 15-percent tariff on imported rice to help mitigate inflation effects and stabilize local prices.
Read full story

DA launches PHP20/kg rice program in Cebu, postpones Metro Manila rollout

Starting May 1, the government will offer PHP20 per kilogram of rice at the Department of Agriculture's Kadiwa Center in Cebu as part of the pilot rollout of the 'Benteng Bigas Meron na' program.
Read full story

DA reports stable fish prices ahead of Holy Week, slight decrease in galunggong

Fish prices remain stable across the Philippines ahead of the Holy Week, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Read full story