Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Department of Agriculture (DA), under directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has launched a series of measures to protect farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers from rising food production costs triggered by surging fuel prices.
The actions are part of a whole-of-government approach to address the ongoing energy emergency.
Food inflation for the country’s bottom 30 percent income households jumped to 3.7 percent in March from 1.9 percent in February, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. While the surge reflects higher input and transport costs due to escalating oil prices, Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized that food supply remains sufficient, although prices are expected to stay elevated in the near term.
“To protect our farmers and fisherfolk from rising costs, and to keep food accessible for all Filipinos, we are combining financial assistance with securing essential inputs like fertilizers,” Tiu Laurel said.
“Programs such as Benteng Bigas and Meron Na are being rapidly rolled out, while infrastructure initiatives—including farm-to-market roads, rice processing systems, and post-harvest facilities—are being accelerated. These steps reduce production costs, stabilize supply, and boost farmers’ incomes.”
The DA has also mobilized trucks to Benguet to help vegetable producers deliver their products to markets, while Food Terminal Inc. is assisting onion farmers in securing fair prices. Planters Product Inc. and the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority are actively sourcing more affordable fertilizers and other alternatives to sustain production.
Tiu Laurel assured that the country has sufficient food supply despite the global fuel market volatility and rising fertilizer costs amid tensions in the Middle East. The department is also exploring additional interventions, including a price caps on imported rice, to maintain affordability while ensuring local producers remain incentivized.
Cereals accounted for 41.8 percent of March’s food inflation, followed by fish and seafood at 36.2 percent, and vegetables at 21.1 percent. The DA’s support measures are aimed at stabilizing these critical commodities and preventing further cost escalation.
“Beyond immediate assistance, we are investing in infrastructure and supply chain improvements to make the agricultural sector more resilient,” Tiu Laurel said. “These steps will lower input costs, improve market access, and ensure farmers and fisherfolk can sustainably meet demand even under challenging conditions.”
While food prices may remain elevated in the short term, the government’s coordinated strategy—combining direct support, infrastructure upgrades, and regulatory measures—is designed to ease the burden on both producers and consumers.
