P550 million allotted for seed storage facilities

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

July 5, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — In response to weather-related disruptions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is boosting the seed industry by allocating P550 million for the construction of more seed reserves across the country.

The facilities will serve as long-term repositories, ensuring a reliable supply of planting materials for crop production, the DA said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA earmarked P250 million for this year to build larger storage facilities in Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Western Visayas.

“Next year, we are putting P300 million for new buildings, insulation panels and racking systems,” Tiu Laurel said.

He said the project intends to prevent another shortage in carrot seeds, particularly in Baguio.

Industry stakeholders have expressed support to the expansion of seed reserves as they noted the need to address the gap in the agricultural value chain.

“This is a major help for the local seed industry. Not all seed companies have the capital to build and maintain this kind of facility,” Philippine Seed Industry Association vice president Julius Barcelona said.