The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) convened a stakeholders’ consultation on April 27, 2026, bringing together representatives from the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs), Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs), other private sector organizations, and Department of Agriculture (DA) officials. Held through a blended platform, the meeting aims to gather stakeholders’ insights and recommendations on the increasing impact of rising fuel prices on the agriculture and fisheries sector.
PCAF OIC-Deputy Executive Director Cyril Soliaban facilitated the consultation and presented initial feedback and strategic responses provided by the NSCs and AFCs on the current situations. Stakeholders highlighted major concerns arising from rising fuel prices, particularly the increasing costs of fuel-dependent agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, as well as higher transportation and logistics expenses for both farm inputs and produce. These challenges have contributed to post-harvest losses, disrupted supply chains, and a widening gap between farmgate and retail prices, further affecting the viability of farmers and fisherfolk.
“This was also an instruction from the Senate Committee on Agriculture during the hearing last March 26, where PCAF was requested to consolidate and submit all stakeholder concerns relative to the current fuel crisis. The inputs will help guide both the Executive and Legislative branches in identifying timely and appropriate interventions as bureaus and attached agencies finalize their plans and budgets for 2027,” said Soliaban.
The discussion highlighted the sector’s vulnerability to rising fuel prices, particularly in production, transport, and overall operational costs.
As a result of the consultation, stakeholders reached several key agreements. Among the primary recommendations was the adoption of fuel and fertilizer vouchers in place of cash subsidies. The body emphasized that this approach would provide more targeted and effective support to beneficiaries within the sector.
To operationalize this, DA will take the lead in drafting distribution guidelines for the proposed vouchers. These guidelines will be circulated through PCAF for further review and enhancement, ensuring that stakeholder inputs are incorporated into the implementation process.
PCAF will consolidate all inputs gathered during the consultation and related dialogues for formal endorsement to the DA Secretary. These will support the Department’s contingency planning on the current fuel price situation. | Joy Camille Luza
