September 22, 2025 · A new agricultural transformation roadmap by the Department of Agriculture (DA) is in the works to ensure affordable vegetables and high-value crops all year round.
The plan includes the establishment of new food corridors near urban markets, with greenhouses, refrigerated storage, and improved post-harvest systems to allow year-round production without climate-related disruptions.
In 2024, the country saw USD 461.8 million worth of imported vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other plant parts, putting the Philippines, a net food importer, in an agricultural trade deficit of USD 11.71 billion. Reducing the deficit by just 10 percent could redirect approximately PHP 60 billion back to local producers, the DA shared in a press release.
To kickstart this initiative, Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Caballero has ordered a full inventory of all DA greenhouses to identify facilities that can be rehabilitated and prepped ahead of infrastructure and equipment procurement in late 2025. With this, the DA commits to the second half of 2026 for the first food corridors to be fully operational.
