Food Security in the Philippines

On the Economist’s 2021 Global Food Security Index (GFSI),  the Philippines placed 64th out of 113 countries in terms of food security’s four dimensions.

In light of the Russia – Ukraine war, skyrocketing fuel prices, recent typhoons, and inflation in a world still reeling from the huge economic setbacks due to the pandemic, posts regarding the high prices of produce in the Philippines such as red onions have been circulating online. Prices of food and beverages have gone up with inflation hitting a 14-year high.

“Food security must be a top priority for all governments, and developing economies especially must have the policy flexibility needed to ensure an increase domestic food production and diversification, and to improve the local agricultural supply and value chain,” mentioned President Marcos in the APEC CEO Summit held earlier this month in Bangkok, Thailand.

The current administration is looking for ways to tackle this issue such as increasing domestic production, providing subsidies to farmers, as well as working with private sectors. With the minimum wage earner earning a meager ₱570 daily, this would not be enough for a family.

On the topic of food security issues, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has stated that “We will do this through more investments in the food value chain and research and development to enhance farm productivity and improve the efficiency of postharvest processes. Getting (the) government to facilitate private investments in marketing infrastructure, including storage, transport, and logistics, is crucial to achieving durable food security,”

More than subsidies, discount vouchers, and financial assistance, while these are all welcome initiatives of the government, they are short-term. As mentioned by Secretary Balisacan, investment towards infrastructures, processes, capacity building, and increased productivity would be the longer but sustainable route toward food security in the Philippines.

Sources: PIDS, GMA News,