BAGUIO CITY — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.held talks with vegetable farmers, truckers, and local officials from Benguet, Tinoc in Ifugao, and Bauko in Mountain Province to address the impact of rising fuel prices on transport costs, farm earnings, and vegetable supply.

The meeting, held at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center, tackled increasing logistical challenges tied to higher global oil prices amid tensions in the Middle East, as well as the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) planned interventions.

Participants said transport expenses have surged significantly since the conflict began, with freight costs for vegetables rising two to three times from farm to trading hubs and market destinations. Farmers from Buguias noted that fuel costs for a 2-ton truck rose from P4,000 to P8,000. Meanwhile, a truckers’ group reported that fuel expenses per trip from La Trinidad trading centers to Metro Manila climbed from P15,000 to P35,000. The increase is estimated to add around P1 to P2 per kilogram to vegetable prices shipped to Metro Manila.

Tiu Laurel said the DA is preparing a fuel subsidy program for truckers to help stabilize deliveries and reduce the burden on transporters and farmers.

“DA has to really exert efforts with the LGUs to determine what a municipality or province lacks, so these can be complemented by surplus produce from areas with full harvesting capacity to maximize our food supply,” he said.

Despite the rising costs, the agriculture chief assured that the country’s food supply remains stable.

As part of immediate measures, the DA has deployed its trucks and is coordinating with farmer cooperatives and associations (FCA) and local government units (LGUs) to transport vegetables from farms to trading centers or directly to markets, with fuel costs shouldered by the agency.

Regional Director Jennilyn Dawayan said efforts are ongoing to widen market access for farmers.

“We are intensifying the search for market linkages where LGU and FCA reported vegetables can be sold, in collaboration with other DA regional offices,” she said.

Another round of discussions is scheduled after Holy Week, in coordination with the Office of the Logistics, Food Terminal Inc., and other DA officials to further refine support measures for farmers and transport groups.

Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel said the government’s P20 rice program is seeing increased demand, with offtake doubling in recent weeks, and noted plans to expand the initiative to help ease the impact of rising fuel costs on consumers.

He emphasized that coordination between national agencies and local governments will be key to ensuring stable food distribution and protecting both producers and consumers.