The Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking action to stabilize palay (unhusked rice) prices after declines were reported in several major rice-producing provinces.
In a country increasingly dependent on non-wood forest products as timber supplies tighten, bamboo has become a practical stand-in for everything from furniture and handicrafts to panels and housing materials. It grows quickly, is widely available, and supports rural livelihoods.
Rice and corn production declined in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting lingering damage from late 2025 typhoons that disrupted planting schedules and destroyed standing crops across key farming regions.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out a nationwide plan to prepare farmers and protect food production from a possible El Niño later this year.