With global demand for ube continuing to rise, Senator Francis Pangilinan is pushing for additional funding to boost local production.
Speaking in Naga City, Pangilinan said he plans to seek more funds for ube under the government’s high-value crops program during the next budget cycle.
“So, now what we’re doing is we’re preparing for the next budget cycle and look into how we can provide additional funding for the high-value crops program but also focus this time on ube,” he said.
The senator noted that ube has strong export potential, with growing demand from cafes and restaurants abroad looking for new food trends.
Pangilinan said support from both government and the private sector is needed, especially since ube takes about a year to mature. He added that he will push for larger agriculture budgets in 2027 to help farmers, fisherfolk, and the country’s food security efforts.
According to Philippine export data, ube shipments climbed to about $3.25 million in 2025, but industry experts say producers still face challenges such as limited resources, pests, diseases, and lack of mechanization.IMT
