MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday warned that soaring fertilizer prices could slash farmers’ earnings to nearly half the minimum wage in some provinces. She pressed once again for a supplemental aid package to support agricultural workers and other vulnerable sectors.

Her office’s projections indicate that farmers in areas such as Central Luzon — where urea fertilizer is widely used — could see their monthly earnings fall to just ₱7,275, barely half of the region’s approximate ₱16,200 minimum wage (₱540 daily) for agricultural workers.

“Rising costs and limited fertilizer supply threaten lower yields, higher food prices, and rock-bottom earnings for our farmers. I urge Malacañang and our colleagues in Congress to support our proposed ₱52.8 billion supplemental budget, which includes an initial ₱2.8 billion agricultural subsidy to help farmers buy fertilizer supplies,” Hontiveros said.

She pointed out that the conflict in the Middle East has sharply increased fertilizer prices, driving farmers’ production costs up by 30 to 40 percent. At the same time, the influx of rice imports has pushed farmgate prices downward, leaving local farmers vulnerable to selling their harvests at unfairly low rates.

“This means a farmer producing 120 cavans of hybrid rice per hectare may earn only ₱7,275 to ₱11,775 a month, should farmgate prices drop to ₱19 or even ₱16 per kilo. Kulang na kulang iyan, lalo na kung may utang pa sila sa trader at lender. Sa mahal ng bilihin ngayon, talagang lugi na ang ating magsasaka at ang kanilang pamilya,” she said.

“Kung hindi man lang aabot sa kalahati ng minimum wage ang kita ng mga magsasaka sa loob ng isang buwan, baka marami sa kanila ang mapilitang tumigil na sa pagsasaka. The government must step in and support our farmers before our nation’s food security is put at risk,” she added.

Hontiveros stressed that while her supplemental budget bill sets aside an initial ₱2.8 billion for agricultural subsidies, the actual support farmers may require could climb to between ₱100 and ₱189 billion if the Middle East conflict drags on through the May to August planting season.

“Kailangan nating palawakin ang tulong sa ating magsasaka para makaraos sila at ang buong sektor ng agrikultura mula sa oil crisis. While the Department of Agriculture has begun assistance programs, its budget for the rice industry in 2026 is only above ₱50 billion. And we can’t expect Department of Social Welfare and Development crisis funds to be spent on farm production inputs,” she said.

“We must prepare to help our farmers and other struggling Filipinos not just in the next few weeks, but in the many months ahead. That is why Congress and Malacañang must work together to pass the supplemental budget bill,” she concluded.

📷 Sen. Risa Hontiveros FB