A farmers’ organization in South Palawan is working to secure Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance that could pave the way for what may become the first agrarian reform product exported from the province.
The group, which grows hydroponic Chinese cabbage and makes value-added products such as kimchi and atsara, is currently processing its application for an FDA License to Operate (LTO), according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Palawan.
DAR-Palawan Information Officer Joshua Belo said the FDA license would allow the farmers to meet requirements for selling their processed products beyond the local market and eventually prepare for export.
“Ngayon 2026 sila naman ngayon ay ongoing sa pag-process ng kanilang application for the FDA,” Belo said during the Kapihan sa PIA at SM City Puerto Princesa on September 24.
He explained that the FDA license is an important step toward giving farmers access to wider markets.
“FDTO is a license to operate na binibigay ng FDA upang ang ating mga farmers ay makapag-export na ng kanilang produkto sa gayon makatulong ito sa kanilang dagdag na income sa kanilang buhay,” Belo said.
The farmers are particularly looking at their kimchi product as a possible export item.
“Kimchi is hindi siya parang Filipino product so parang we are targeting at least ma-export natin sa labas,” Belo said.
If the plan pushes through, the farmers could reach a milestone that, according to DAR Palawan, has not yet been achieved by other agrarian reform products in the province.
“Actually wala pa. Lahat tayo local market lang tayo,” Belo said when asked whether an agrarian reform product from Palawan had already been exported.
“Hopefully, pag natuloy, ito ang first ever na product na-export natin from Palawan,” he added.
The potential export represents a shift from agrarian reform beneficiaries relying mainly on land ownership and local sales toward processing agricultural products and developing them for larger markets.
DAR Palawan presented its programs and services for agrarian reform beneficiaries during the Kapihan sa PIA, where Belo also provided updates on the agency’s assistance to farmers in the province.
For the South Palawan farmers, securing the FDA license is still the next step. Exporting the products will depend on completing the necessary requirements and gaining access to overseas markets.
