Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 21) — The agriculture sector is already in crisis, the countrys incoming socioeconomic planning secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief said Tuesday.

Food crisis have risen already. As you know, the avian flu, this problem has been with us that has led to crippling price increases of meat. Rice prices have also been a problem, incoming Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Arsenio Balisacan told CNN Philippines The Source.

Balisacan added that while rice tariffication has slightly brought down the price cap on the staple, they remain high. Farmers are also facing numerous issues such as the low profitability of rice farming and farming in general.

With that, I would say that our agriculture is in crisis, he said.

Balisacan said the problem has already been exacerbated by global supply disruptions that would likely continue in the coming months. He warned that exporting countries will eventually limit their exports to protect their own citizens.

Balisacan stressed the need to protect vulnerable sectors already saddled by the rising prices of basic commodities.

In the meantime, we really have to sit down, tighten our belts and protect those who must be protected, he added. Im referring to the poor and the vulnerable. While we have resources, limited as they are, we should provide assistance to these groups so they wouldnt feel disproportionately the burden of the shocks.

The incoming NEDA chief said in order to protect the poor, subsidies must be more targeted, and the issuance of the National ID should be fast-tracked to help facilitate a quicker rollout of assistance.

On Monday, President-elect Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos announced that he would temporarily take on the role of agriculture chief so the government can respond quickly to severe problems faced by the sector.

Marcos said they foresee an increase in food prices in the coming months because of external forces, and while the country has been able to weather these, more has to be done.

Outgoing Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar said there is really a major disruption of the food supply chain in a global scale, and the issue can be likened to the impacts of the pandemic. He earlier told CNN Philippines that the agency has prepared an action plan that is geared towards subsidizing and boosting the productivity level of farmers, local feed formulation, promoting urban gardening, and strengthening market access, among others.

He also called for an increase in funding for the Department of Agriculture in order for the agriculture sector to reach a higher growth level. Dar said the agency has been proposing an annual funding of more ₱200 billion, but it was only granted an ₱85.5-billion budget for 2022.