Senator Loren Legarda has slammed the Department of Agriculture (DA) for failing to deliver a clear response to soaring fuel costs, warning farmers are losing harvests while fishers suspend operations.
Data from Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura showed nearly half of small fishers in parts of Luzon have stopped going out to sea as fuel eats up earnings, raising risks to food supply.
“What is your action plan, your contingency plan? We are already six weeks into this crisis. We don’t want to hear that you are still planning,” Legarda said.
She flagged cases in Benguet where crops were left to dry, pressing officials on missing fuel aid, transport support, and market link systems.
The DA admitted limited capacity due to resource gaps and logistics issues, but Legarda rejected the explanation, saying funds exist and action is overdue.
She urged immediate rollout of fuel and transport aid, crop mapping, cold chain support, and faster use of funds under the 2025 budget to prevent further losses and stabilize supply.IMT
