Group seeks P3-B fund, updated industry roadmap

Local agricultural leaders are urging the government to allocate at least P3 billion to support the country’s coffee sector and craft an updated national coffee industry roadmap, warning that the country remains heavily dependent on imports.

During the first Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress in Makati City on Thursday, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) said funds should be drawn from existing agricultural tariff collections that are already deposited with the National Treasury.

“We are not asking for new money. The fund is already there,” PCAFI president Danilo V. Fausto told reporters, referring to the P5.157 billion available from tariff collections under the Special Safeguard duty on imports.

“Sixty percent of that money is from coffee. That should flow back to the industry," he added.

Fausto said the recommended funding for coffee for next year should be channeled through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to support farmers directly with planting materials, seeds, fertilizer, and technology. 

“Without planting material, you have no crops. Give the funds to BPI so extension work, seeds, planting materials, and support services reach coffee growers,” he said.

He also raised concern that government support has been inadequate, noting that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has only proposed P25 million for coffee programs under the 2025 National Expenditure Program, despite available tariff collections that could support the sector. 

“Why is only P25 million being proposed by the DA out of P5 billion?” he said, referring to the funds sourced from safeguard duties on agricultural imports.

“No one will avail because there are too many requirements. It should just be released to the BPI to implement.”

The push for higher funding comes as the government is drafting a new Philippine Coffee Roadmap for 2025–2030 to boost local production and reduce dependence on imported beans as domestic consumption rises. 

The roadmap is expected to address long-standing gaps in the sector, such as the shortage of coffee seedlings, limited accredited nurseries, and weak farmer support services.

Philippine Coffee Board Chairperson Pacita Juan, in a separate interview, stressed that the roadmap must take a more strategic and long-term view. 

“We need to address the lack of coffee trees,” she said, adding that the industry also suffers from logistics and technical constraints. 

“Right now, they have no access to services that will make them more competitive,” she said, noting that farmers need localized nurseries, extension workers, and research support to improve yields and quality.