Philippines warns food security risks at FAO Asia-Pacific Forum

Author: DA Press Office | 28 April 2026

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam (April 23, 2026) - The Philippines has urged stronger regional coordination to safeguard food security across the Asia-Pacific, warning that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are already disrupting global supply chains and driving up agricultural input costs.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. raised the concern during the Ministerial Segment of the 38th Session of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC 38), a biennial gathering of ministers and senior officials from 46 member states focused on food and agriculture policy coordination.

The Philippines, together with Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia, had earlier pushed for the inclusion of the "food security implications of the 2026 conflict in the Middle East" in the conference agenda. The move reflects growing concern that disruptions in oil, gas, and fertilizer exports could intensify inflationary pressures on food systems across the region.

A key concern raised in the discussions was the transmission of global energy shocks into domestic agricultural production. Fertilizer and fuel, two of the most critical inputs in farming and food distribution, have seen price increases, with knock-on effects on production costs, transport, and retail food prices.

"We meet at a moment when geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have posed additional risks to global economic and food security through disruptions in oil, gas, and fertilizer exports, which have already triggered price hikes," said Tiu Laurel, underscoring the immediate impact on vulnerable food systems in developing economies.

In the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture noted that rising fertilizer costs are particularly difficult during the wet planting season, when demand for inputs is highest. Higher fuel prices have also increased the cost of transporting food across the country's archipelagic geography, contributing to price pressures on basic commodities and reduced fishing activity due to higher operating costs.

These external shocks are being compounded by climate risks, including the likelihood of a stronger El Niño later in the year, which could further strain agricultural output and water availability.

FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero's briefing at the conference reinforced the Philippines' concerns, highlighting the global nature of supply chain vulnerabilities and the need for coordinated policy responses to manage volatility in food and input markets.

The Philippines has outlined a series of domestic mitigation measures, including fuel subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk, expanded logistics support, investments in cold storage and post-harvest infrastructure, and efforts to promote alternative and non-fossil-based fertilizers. These initiatives aim to cushion short-term shocks while strengthening long-term resilience.

Beyond immediate interventions, the Philippines also pushed for a broader shift in regional agricultural policy. Tiu Laurel emphasized the need for an "agri-food systems approach" that goes beyond production targets to include income stability, nutrition outcomes, and rural development.

The Philippines expressed that its priorities include targeted rural infrastructure investments, climate-resilient farming technologies, innovative financing mechanisms to attract private capital, stronger coordination with local governments, and inclusive value chains that support women and youth participation in agriculture.

On the sidelines of APRC 38, the Philippine delegation held bilateral meetings with officials from Lao PDR and Vietnam to discuss agricultural cooperation, technology exchange, and trade facilitation, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional resilience.

The APRC serves as the FAO's main policy platform for Asia and the Pacific, guiding collective action on food security and agricultural development. The Philippines called for continued real time monitoring of commodity and fertilizer prices and supply and early warning by FAO, market transparency, open and predictable trade among Members, and reiterated its commitment to regional cooperation, emphasizing that food security challenges are increasingly interconnected and require coordinated responses.

The Ministerial Segment of APRC 38 was preceded by a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on April 20-22, 2026, with Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations Atty. Asis Perez leading the Philippine delegation with the support of Agriculture Attaché and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Rome-based Agencies (FAO, WFP, IFAD) Dr. Josyline Javelosa, DA Foreign Affairs Specialist Dean Marc Bolima and Atty. Eunice Jumalon.

The APRC38 SOM discussed the region's food security challenges and emerging issues and set the technical and policy foundations ahead of the Ministerial Session.

At the APRC 38 Ministerial Sessiion on April 23-24, 2026, Philippine Delegation led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. was also joined by DA Undersecretary for Official Development Assistance and Special Concerns Jerome Oliveros and Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio, in addition to the Philippine delegates to APRC38-SOM.

The next session of the FAO Asia Pacific Regional Conference will be hosted by Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2028. ### (By DA - OSEC Comms & photo by Jeferson Quilang)