By Kenneth Marcos 
Farmers, traders, and agriculture stakeholders are advised to take note: several offices of the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) will be closed on Monday, September 22, 2025, following a nationwide directive from Malacañang.
The temporary closure is in line with Memorandum Circular No. 97 issued by the Office of the President, suspending work in government offices in selected regions. The circular aims to give way to necessary preparations and public safety measures, although the reason behind the work suspension was not detailed in the memo.
Among the areas where DA-BPI offices will be closed are:
-
Metro Manila
-
Batangas
-
Benguet
-
Cagayan
-
Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur
-
Isabela
-
Kalinga
-
La Union
-
Laguna
-
Nueva Ecija
-
Occidental and Oriental Mindoro
-
Pampanga
-
Pangasinan
-
Palawan
-
Tarlac
-
Zambales
While office-based operations will be suspended in these areas, the Plant Quarantine Services Stations at ports of entry will remain fully operational. These frontline offices play a key role in checking the entry of imported agricultural goods to protect local crops from pests and diseases.
The DA-BPI is urging the public to plan transactions accordingly, especially those involving permits, plant health certificates, and import/export clearances. Online services may still be accessible depending on the office location and specific services required.
Farmers and traders who rely on BPI services for timely documentation, especially for shipping fresh produce or agricultural products, are encouraged to adjust their schedules ahead of the one-day suspension.
For more information, the public may refer to the full memorandum posted on the Presidential Communications Office website via https://pco.gov.ph.
The DA-BPI also assured that regular office operations in the affected areas will resume on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, unless further announcements are made.
Pwersa Balita – Your Trusted Source in Agri News