Manila, May 7 -- The Department of Agriculture is spending PHP55 million to upgrade food safety monitoring capability, equipping laboratories of the Bureau of Plant Industry nationwide to detect nitrate and nitrite contaminants in plant-based foods.

The move signals a more data-driven approach to regulating produce safety, as authorities begin building baseline evidence for future national standards.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the investment supports a broader push by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen food safety and expand the country's agricultural export potential.

"This is part of our continuing effort to ensure food security, protect public health while preparing our capacity ...