MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is strengthening initiatives to conserve the Ifugao Rice Terraces as the historic farming landscape faces increasing threats from climate change, aging infrastructure, and shifting agricultural practices.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. visited Banaue on Friday to inspect the condition of the rice terraces, assess agricultural facilities, and meet with farmers and local officials to discuss measures aimed at improving farm productivity, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods.

The DA said it has earmarked more than P218.8 million for Ifugao’s agriculture sector in 2026. The funding will support programs on rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, climate adaptation, and farmer development, benefiting more than 400 farmers’ organizations and agricultural communities across the province.

The department has also poured investments into infrastructure through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). Since its implementation in Ifugao, the program has financed 10 infrastructure projects worth more than P2.025 billion, including seven farm-to-market roads valued at P1.903 billion, two potable water supply systems worth P112.2 million, and a communal irrigation system amounting to P9.76 million.

According to the DA, these projects aim to improve farmers’ access to markets, reduce transport costs, enhance water security, and boost agricultural productivity. The agency said these are in addition to 18 completed farm-to-market road and potable water supply projects in the province worth P810.55 million.

For 2027, the department has endorsed a P147-million proposal for the restoration of rice terraces in the Cordillera region, including P68 million allocated for Ifugao and another P30 million for the rehabilitation of two agricultural tramlines.

“The Ifugao Rice Terraces are more than a cultural treasure. They are a living agricultural system that supports food production, tourism, and rural livelihoods,” said Tiu Laurel. “Our goal is to ensure that preservation goes hand in hand with modernization by helping farmers become more productive, climate-resilient, and profitable while protecting a heritage that has sustained generations. Our heirloom rice presents a significant opportunity for export, and we are determined to position it as a premium Philippine product recognized worldwide.”

The agriculture chief also visited the Batad Rice Terraces, part of the UNESCO-listed Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, where portions of the landscape have been affected by damaged stone walls, deteriorating irrigation systems, and increasingly unpredictable weather.

Local stakeholders called for assistance in restoring rice terraces and irrigation systems, strengthening disaster mitigation efforts, and expanding programs for heirloom rice conservation.

The DA noted that restoration efforts are further complicated by UNESCO conservation standards, which restrict the use of non-traditional materials in rehabilitation work.

Officials also raised concerns over the increasing conversion of some rice terraces into highland vegetable farms.

At the Banaue Viewpoint terraces, local officials recommended rehabilitation as more farmers shift to vegetable production due to limited water supply and the prospect of higher earnings.

The department said the trend underscores the need to make heritage farming economically sustainable for farming families facing higher production costs and changing market conditions.

During his visit, Tiu Laurel also inspected the 1.2-kilometer San Fernando–Lubu-ong tramline connecting farming communities in Banaue and Hungduan, which has been damaged and forced farmers to rely on less efficient transport options.

He likewise visited the 520-meter Viewpoint–Ki-iyang Tramline, a farm-to-market support facility completed by the DA in 2014 that serves Barangay Viewpoint in Banaue. The agency said continuous heavy use has caused repeated cable damage, resulting in recurring repairs and temporary service interruptions.

Tiu Laurel recommended upgrading the tramline based on a design he commissioned two years ago.

According to the DA, rehabilitating the two tramlines is essential to improving the transport of farm inputs and produce from remote communities, supporting agricultural productivity and better market access.

The department said its efforts are focused not only on preserving one of the country’s best-known agricultural heritage sites but also on ensuring the long-term productivity and economic viability of one of the Philippines’ oldest farming systems.