Senator Francis Pangilinan said increased funding for Agricultural Food Hubs in the 2026 Department of Agriculture budget will help unlock Mindanao’s potential as the country’s main food basket and stabilize food prices nationwide.
Under the bicameral report, funding for agri food hubs rose from P2.125 billion to P2.625 billion to build aggregation, storage, cold chain, processing, and distribution facilities in key production areas, including Mindanao.
Pangilinan said poor logistics, high transport costs, and post-harvest losses have long hurt farmers’ incomes while pushing food prices up for consumers. Strengthening food hubs, along with farm-to-market roads and ports, will cut spoilage and middlemen, allowing farmers and fisherfolk to earn more while keeping food affordable.
The Department of Agriculture identified priority sites for 2026 in Bukidnon, Camarines Sur, Quezon, and Pampanga.
The senator said the focus on Mindanao supports his food security agenda, stressing that efficient logistics and regional connectivity are key to reducing hunger nationwide.
He also warned that agri food hubs must be backed by strong governance and transparency to ensure funds go to functional facilities, not idle projects that fail to lower prices or raise farm incomes.IMT
