MANILA, March 4 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expecting an increase in exports of Philippine products to participating countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Tisha Dela Rosa, DA Development Management Officer V, allayed fears of various agriculture groups on the ratification of RCEP, assuring them that the multilateral trade deal would benefit them.

"It (RCEP) is not something that we have to fear because it will not liberalize the [agriculture] sector more than what it is now," Dela Rosa said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

"Hindi naman dapat katakutan ang RCEP (RCEP's ratification should not be a cause for concern). Instead, we'd like to look at RCEP as a v...