The Department of Agriculture is introducing typhoon-resistant farm infrastructure to stabilize chili pepper prices, which often surge due to crop damage from heavy rains and storms. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this is part of a broader strategy to make chili production more predictable amid the Philippines' volatile weather.
Amid frequent price surges for chili peppers during the rainy season, reaching as high as P800 per kilo for siling labuyo in September due to crop damage, the Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to build greenhouses using local materials and structures designed to withstand strong storms. The goal is to protect crops from floods and prolonged rainfall.
"We need to know how much we consume, how much we produce and where the gaps are," Tiu Laurel said. These data will guide the number of hectares to plant and how quickly production can scale. The DA is also establishing baseline figures on national and Metro Manila chili consumption, current output, and average yield per hectare.
Chili cultivation is not limited to traditional areas like Bicol and can be done in most parts of the country under the DA's High Value Crops program. For 2026, chili is a priority crop alongside munggo or mung beans, with the focus on lowering prices for the former and reducing imports for the latter.
The DA will expand access to clean planting materials such as siling labuyo, siling pansigang, and grafted bell peppers through its Gulayan sa Bayan program, which aims to boost agri-entrepreneurship in 1,370 municipalities. Bell pepper prices have hovered around P250 per kilo, while munggo prices continue to fluctuate, highlighting the food market's sensitivity to supply shocks and import reliance.
Tiu Laurel noted that stabilizing chili output would benefit restaurants, food processors, and retailers, especially during peak demand periods like holidays. For transparency, the DA has ordered weekly public updates on prices and supply starting this month, using articles and short-form videos.
