WESTERN Visayas’ agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AFF) sector has reason to celebrate — on paper. From a steep -7.4% contraction in 2024, the sector rebounded sharply to 9.5% growth in 2025, helping propel the region to become the fastest-growing economy in the country at 6.4%. As reported by this paper over the weekend, this is a remarkable turnaround, one that officials rightly attribute in part to government support programs, including subsidies rolled out under initiatives like the Uplift Program.
But subsidies, while helpful, are not enough. They are, at best, a temporary cushion. At worst, they are a dangerous illusion of stability.
The warning signs are already there. Even as the sector posts impressive growth, economic managers are raising the alarm over rising fuel costs, global geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions — all of which threaten to derail gains. Diesel prices have surged, a crushing burden for farmers and fisherfolk whose operations depend heavily on fuel — from irrigation and mechanized farming to transporting produce to markets.
This is the fundamental weakness of a subsidy-dependent system: it reacts to crises but does not eliminate vulnerabilities.
Providing financial aid to farmers can temporarily offset higher costs, but it does not address why those costs are so volatile in the first place. Subsidies cannot stabilize global oil prices. They cannot shield local producers from geopolitical shocks. And they certainly cannot prevent the cascading effects of logistics breakdowns that threaten food availability.
In Western Visayas, this fragility is particularly pronounced. The region’s agricultural rebound has been buoyed by improved production of key crops such as rice, corn, and sugarcane. Yet these gains remain highly exposed — not only to global economic forces but also to environmental uncertainties. As regional officials themselves admit, the sector’s performance still hinges heavily on something as unpredictable as “good weather.”
That is not a strategy. That is a gamble.
If the region is to sustain its growth, then the conversation must shift from short-term relief to long-term resilience.
There must be a decisive push toward modernization. Mechanization, post-harvest facilities, cold storage systems, and digital supply chain management are essential. Without these, farmers will continue to lose value due to inefficiencies, spoilage, and market delays.
Also, the government must invest aggressively in energy independence for agriculture. There is now a growing shift toward renewable energy, particularly solar power. This should become policy. Solar-powered irrigation, cold storage, and even transport systems can significantly reduce dependence on volatile fuel markets, insulating farmers from price shocks.
Western Visayas must double down, too, on local production and consumption networks. Strengthening farm-to-market linkages, supporting cooperatives, and promoting localized food systems can reduce reliance on long, fragile supply chains that are easily disrupted by global crises.
And yes, there must be a serious commitment to climate-resilient agriculture. Irrigation infrastructure, flood control, drought-resistant crops, and science-based farming practices are critical. It is not enough to “hope for good weather” when extreme heat and flooding are becoming the norm.
Subsidies may keep our region’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector afloat — but they will never make it storm-proof. If Western Visayas is serious about safeguarding its food security and protecting the livelihoods of its farmers and fisherfolk, then it must move beyond temporary fixes and invest in lasting solutions.
