- The Philippines is leaning more heavily on private capital to modernise agriculture.
- The investment push is aimed at fixing structural bottlenecks in the agri-food supply chain.
- More than PHP33.25bn (USD538.36m) in PPP-linked agriculture projects is already in the pipeline.
The DA said it was intensifying efforts to tap private-sector capital for “critical farm infrastructure”.
This included farm-to-market roads, mega food hubs, agri-fish ports, hatchery centres, agricultural mechanisation and biosafety facilities, cold storage, solar-powered ice plants and irrigation systems.
According to the PPP Center, projects currently under development are valued at PHP33.25bn (USD538.36m), while those already under implementation amount to PHP4.7bn (USD76.2m).
Private capital needed
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. met officials from the Public-Private Partnership Center on June 30 to discuss a pipeline of priority projects aimed at boosting farm productivity, strengthening food security and reducing post-harvest losses.
“We are bringing in the private sector to accelerate investments that will modernise agriculture, strengthen food security, and create lasting value for our farmers,” said Tiu Laurel.
The DA also expressed interest in tapping the PPP Center’s Project Development and Monitoring Facility, a fund that finances project preparation and transaction advisory services to help government agencies develop bankable PPP projects and attract private investors.
The meeting comes as the government moves to speed up infrastructure investment by drawing in more private capital, particularly in agriculture, where poor logistics, limited storage and inadequate irrigation continue to weigh on productivity, drive post-harvest losses and push up food costs.
Filling in the gaps
The talks highlight the government’s increasing push to use public-private partnerships to address long-running gaps in farm infrastructure, with logistics, mechanisation and post-harvest facilities seen as key to raising productivity, reducing supply chain costs and strengthening food security.
Agriculture Undersecretary Arrey A. Perez said stronger coordination between government and private investors would be critical to turning these plans into projects on the ground.
“Partnership is the key to delivering these projects faster. By working closely with the PPP Center and private investors, we can build the infrastructure our farmers need and make agriculture a stronger engine of economic growth.”
The push comes after the DA greenlit more than PHP2.06bn (USD33.4m) worth of farm-to-market road and bridge projects for implementation, funded largely through the World Bank-supported Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up.
“These projects are very crucial to our agri-food systems,” Tiu Laurel said.
The Philippines continues to be held back by inadequate rural infrastructure, which drives up transport costs, contributes to post-harvest losses and weakens farmers’ competitiveness.
“I’m sure these projects will improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, lower their expenses, and give them better access to markets.”
The projects include the construction of farm-to-market roads — with the longest stretching 26km — as well as bridges connecting farming communities to markets. They also include irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities.
