Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has directed officials and employees of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fast-track data collection in preparation for the launch of the agency’s new Command Center – a central platform meant to anchor the DA’s digitalization agenda and support evidence-based policymaking.

At the DA’s quarterly management meeting, Tiu Laurel stressed that the agency’s modernization efforts will only be as strong as the quality of information feeding into the system. 

“I encourage everybody to gather and provide data that will populate the Command Center,” he told staff. “But we need real data, not fake information, to ensure we make the right decisions and take correct actions.”

The Command Center is envisioned as the DA’s integrated data hub, consolidating real-time information on production, inventories, weather conditions, trade flows, pricing, satellite monitoring and supply chain movements. By unifying these datasets, the platform aims to help planners anticipate shortages, prevent oversupply, accelerate interventions and improve coordination across regional offices.

To enhance the system’s analytical capabilities, Tiu Laurel said the DA is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to process large datasets and generate actionable insights. “We will use AI to ask the questions and then hopefully help us solve problems or situations,” he said. The DA says the initiative may be branded as GAIA — Government Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture.

The DA expects the AI layer to support scenario modeling, optimize planting schedules, detect emerging disease threats, monitor price distortions and recommend targeted policy responses aligned with national goals on food security and farm productivity.

Tiu Laurel emphasized that the effectiveness of the Command Center will rely on the participation of all DA units, from central offices to regional and field operations. 

“If we want to manage Philippine agriculture well, we must base our decisions on accurate and timely information,” he said.

The DA hopes the digital shift will deliver a more responsive and transparent agricultural management system — one capable of stabilizing supply and prices while improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers.