Article by:
Zaldy De Layola
MANILA – The House of Representatives on Tuesday held a briefing with the Department of Agriculture (DA), including its line bureaus and attached agencies, to review government measures aimed at protecting the Philippine agriculture sector from the potential economic fallout of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The briefing was conducted by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga and focused on contingency plans to support farmers, stabilize food supply chains and manage possible increases in agricultural prices.
“This briefing comes at a critical time. These are not abstract risks – they have direct and immediate consequences on food production, prices, and the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos,” Enverga said, citing pressure on fuel costs, logistics and agricultural inputs.
He said the review was aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen food security and ensure proactive government response to external shocks.
During the briefing, lawmakers raised concern over the potential impact of global supply disruptions on fertilizer availability and prices, warning that constraints in key routes such as the Strait of Hormuz could affect farm productivity.
They also stressed the need for timely and targeted assistance to farmers and fisherfolk, particularly as rising input costs and fuel prices continue to strain operations across the sector.
Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro said geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States are already affecting global energy and trade markets.
“The prices of oil and fertilizers have risen considerably. This will affect the entire global agricultural supply and disrupt international trade,” Navarro said. “For the Philippines, this geopolitical shock poses serious risks not only to food affordability but even to food availability.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo outlined the government’s response, anchored on direct financial support and fuel subsidies.
“We are targeting to provide assistance to about 4.17 million farmers and fisherfolk starting May,” Manalo said, referring to the PHP10-billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk program under the 2026 budget.
He said each beneficiary is expected to receive around PHP2,325, with rice farmers receiving aid through digital transfers, while others will be covered through distribution caravans.
To help offset rising fuel costs, Manalo said the DA will provide PHP5,000 per farmer and PHP3,000 per fisher.
He added that the country’s fuel requirement for major agricultural commodities has reached more than 505 million liters annually, equivalent to over PHP41 billion, underscoring the sector’s exposure to global oil price movements.
Enverga said lawmakers will assess whether current interventions are sufficient, particularly as farmers and fisherfolk face rising input costs and supply uncertainties.
“Our objective is straightforward: to ensure that our farmers and fisherfolk are protected, our food supply remains stable, and our country is prepared for any escalation of global risks,” Enverga said. (PNA)
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