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As part of the 15th Quarantine Regulatory Meeting (QRM) held from April 28 to May 2, 2025, in Manila, delegates took part in a cultural and agricultural immersion in Lucban, Quezon, on April 30. The meeting, with the theme “The Evolution of Biosecurity Regulations: Past, Present, and Future,” was organized by the Bureau of Plant Industry – National Plant Quarantine Services Division (BPI-NPQSD) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). It aims to foster collaboration and strengthen responses to growing biosecurity risks in agriculture and trade.

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Facilitated by the BPI, the Lucban tour offered a refreshing break and learning experience for the delegates. They were welcomed by picturesque rice fields, coconut-lined landscapes, and cooler weather—hallmarks of Lucban as Quezon’s Summer and Tourist Capital.

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Their first stop was the Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA), showcasing a successful partnership between Korea’s Rural Development Administration and the Philippine Department of Agriculture. Here, delegates were greeted with rice cakes, local souvenirs, and a cultural performance from the Lucban Tourism Office.

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Lucban’s Municipal Agriculturist, Sonia Catchuela, shared how KOPIA introduced innovations such as smart farming, greenhouse systems, and farmer training, all of which have benefited the local agricultural community. The group then visited Bukid Amara, a scenic flower farm, where they witnessed a demo on making kiping—Lucban’s traditional rice wafer—and learned to eat Pansit Lucban the authentic habhab way. Farm owner Michael Caballes spoke about their commitment to smart farming and agri-tourism to address agricultural challenges and support sustainable farming practices.

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The tour concluded at Insular Botanicals International Inc., a large farm exporting bromeliads, air plants, and cut flowers to countries like Japan and the Netherlands. Vice Manager Anthony Dimaranan guided the group and shared the company’s journey since the 1970s.

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This meaningful field trip combined tradition, innovation, and sustainability—highlighting the BPI’s commitment to promoting smart agriculture, enhancing biosecurity, and supporting Philippine farm tourism in the face of climate and trade challenges.

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