APIT TAKO

22/08/2026

Kanatengan Network calls on DA: Immediate relief to vegetable farmers affected by monsoon

Kanatengan Network is calling on the Department of Agriculture for immediate relief in the aftermath of heavy monsoon rains and Typhoon Maymay that severely affected the Cordillera region.

“We are facing bankruptcy anew with the loss of our crops and income. While the damage assessment and relief goods are welcome, these are not enough. We appeal to the DA to provide production subsidy, free farm inputs, crop insurance and assistance in the rehabilitation of our vegetable gardens,” said Michael Baani, vegetable farmer and Kanatengan Network co-convenor.

Benguet and Mountain Province are among the hardest hit by the monsoon rains and typhoon Maymay. In Benguet province, roughly Php 300,000 worth of vegetables were damaged in Buguias while around 60 hectares were affected in Mankayan, with estimated losses of Php 2 to Php 3 million in lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, sayote and chili. In Bauko and other areas, farmers reported damages to sweet peas and rice.
In La Trinidad, floodwaters submerged sections of the Strawberry Farm, disrupting local production. Aggravating the situation, severe delays and congestion at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post left truckloads of harvested produce stranded in queues for up to two days. Exposure to continuous rain caused tons of cabbages and carrots to rot in transit, forcing prices down to as low as ₱5 per kilo and leaving farmers with unsold, deteriorating crops.
Compounding these heavy crop losses is the ongoing struggle for farmers to recover their production and livelihood. Even prior to the typhoon, farmers in Benguet were forced to dump cabbages and carrots along the Labey-Lacamen Road in Tublay due to rock-bottom prices, long market delays, and a lack of buyers.
It is with this situation that Kanatengan Network is urgently calling on the government to immediately assist and support vegetable farmers to recover their production and livelihood.

As a country that experiences two seasons,it is normal for us to experience heat and typhoons every year, but what is neither normal nor natural is the damage they cause. Millions in agricultural losses should not be the norm when proper disaster preparedness programs, facilities, and government support are in place. The Kanatengan Network stands firm in calling for production subsidies, free farm inputs, crop insurance, comprehensive rehabilitation support, and policy-backed government procurement mechanisms to secure markets and guaranteed buyers for harvested crops during calamities for our local vegetable farmers.

18/08/2026

APIT TAKO SA BALITA:

NEWS | Farmers hit by floods and prolonged rains are also struggling with falling prices and limited buyers, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said, demanding immediate production subsidies and recovery assistance from the government.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2a3h3s89

NEWS | Farmers hit by floods and prolonged rains are also struggling with falling prices and limited buyers, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said, demanding immediate production subsidies and recovery assistance from the government.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2a3h3s89
Photo from Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation

18/08/2026

Over P1-B agri damage, vegetable farmers left without support amid Habagat flooding

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) called on the Marcos government and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to immediately provide production subsidies and recovery assistance to vegetable farmers hit by floods, and continuous rains from the Habagat and recent weather disturbances.

As of August 17, agricultural damage has surpassed P1 billion, including P589 million in palay and P313 million in vegetables, according to the DA. Earlier estimates placed total damage at P689 million.

But vegetable farmers face a double blow: damaged crops and very low buying prices. According to an association of vegetable farmers, many growers can no longer sell their produce. Long queues were reported at the La Trinidad Trading Post last week, while prices fell amid worsening weather conditions. Based on latest prices, first-class cabbage sold for only P20-35 per kilo and second-class cabbage for P8-10. Traders said second-class cabbage has remained largely unsold for three days. Carrots sold at P30-43, broccoli at P80, potatoes at P75, and Baguio pechay at P20-33, with lower-grade produce fetching only P7-10 per kilo.

“Vegetable farmers are losing both their crops and their income. Those who manage to harvest cannot even sell their produce at decent prices. Yet the DA has no immediate production support for them,” said KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos.

The La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post recorded a 1,800-metric-ton reduction in vegetable deliveries from August 1 to 10, reflecting the disruption in production and transport. Millions of pesos worth of vegetables were also damaged across Central Luzon.

According to APIT-TAKO, KMP’s regional chapter in Cordillera, Benguet and Mountain Province were among the hardest hit. In Buguias, around P300,000 worth of vegetable crops were damaged. In Mankayan, 60 hectares were affected, with estimated losses of P2 to 3 million in lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, sayote and chili. Farmers also reported losses of lettuce, cabbage and cucumber. Bauko and other areas also reported damage to sweet peas and rice. Over the weekend, farmers in Benguet dumped Chinese cabbage and carrots along the Labey-Lacamen Road in Tublay, Benguet due to low prices and lack of buyers.

Habagat has also affected agricultural communities in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union, particularly coastal areas. Batangas reported thousands of affected farmworkers and fisherfolk, with damage to sugarcane, vegetable and rice farms. Rice-producing areas in Mindoro and Quezon were likewise affected, according to KMP chapters in the Ilocos and Southern Luzon regions, respectively.

“Hindi sapat ang damage assessment at relief goods. Nawalan ng pananim, kita at puhunan ang mga magsasaka. Kailangan nila ng agarang production subsidy, libreng binhi at inputs, crop insurance at tulong sa rehabilitasyon ng kanilang mga taniman,” Ramos said.

The KMP urged the DA and local governments to conduct transparent, farmer-led damage assessments and immediately release assistance to affected vegetable farmers. “The government cannot simply count the losses and leave farmers to recover on their own. Vegetable farmers need immediate support to recover their production and livelihood, ” the KMP said. # # #

08/08/2026

HAPPENING NOW:

Despite the gloomy weather, vegetable farmers and advocates gather here at the Benguet State University for a forum on Gardinero issues, led by the Kanatengan Network.

The forum is in line with the celebration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

06/08/2026

From the Cordilleran Sun

Some parts of the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet particularly those near the Bolo Creek are submerged in water because of the continuous rains brought by Tropical Storm Maymay.

Flooding is a problem that farmers here face every time a typhoon or tropical storm passes through the area.

06/08/2026

NEWS | Churches held solidarity services at community barricades opposing mining projects in Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya, supporting residents’ calls to protect ancestral lands, farms, rivers, watersheds, and livelihoods.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2r2vs6ta
Photo from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines

06/08/2026

Lebel ng tubig sa mga dam mababa pa rin sa kabila ng ng mga pag-ulan, problema sa irigasyon idinadaing ng mga magsasaka

Nagbabala ang Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) na nananatiling nasa malawakang krisis ang irigasyon na nakakaapekto sa produksyon ng pagkain ng bansa sa kabila ng mga pag-ulan at cloud seeding operations na pansamantalang nagpataas ng lebel ng tubig sa Angat at Magat Dams. Nasa 155 meters ang lebel ng Angat Dam at 164 meters naman ang lebel ng Magat Dam nitong Agosto 3. Malayo pa sa normal na lebel na 210 meters ang Angat Dam.

Ayon sa National Irrigation Administration–Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS), maaari nilang pansamantalang suspendihin ang pagpapakawala ng tubig para sa irigasyon matapos ang mga pag-ulang dulot ng Habagat at cloud seeding sa ilang bahagi ng kanilang service areas. Gayunman, iginiit ng KMP na hindi nito mabibigyang solusyon ang mas malalim na problema ng lumiliit na reserbang tubig at kakulangan ng pangmatagalang plano ng gobyerno sa para sa irigasyon.

Kahit naiulat na tumaas ng kaunti ang tubig sa Magat Dam, nananatiling mababa ang lebel ng iba pang pangunahing dam sa Luzon. Ang Angat Dam na nagsusuplay ng tubig sa Metro Manila at pinanggagalingan rin ng irigasyon sa libu-libong ektaryang sakahan sa Bulacan at Pampanga, ay nananatiling mas mababa sa critical level kahit bahagyang umangat dahil sa mga pag-ulan nitong nagdaang mga araw.

“Malayo pa sa normal ang lebel ng tubig sa mga dam. Ang problema natin ngayon sa irigasyon ay dahil sa matagal nang kapabayaan ng gobyerno sa pagpapaunlad, pagpapalawak at rehabilitasyon ng mga irrigation systems at watersheds,” ayon kay KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos.

Binigyang-diin ng KMP na nagbabala kamakailan ang PAG-ASA na maaaring lumala pa ang epekto ng El Nino at tanging tugon lang ng gobyerno ang cloud seeding operations at water conservation. Ayon sa KMP, pantapal na tugon ito habang milyon-milyong magsasaka ang nananatiling bulnerable at apektado ng kakulangan ng tubig at irigasyon.

Kapag tagtuyot, kulang na kulang ang suplay ng irigasyon. Kapag umuulan naman, umaasa lang ang gobyerno sa pansamantalang pagtaas ng tubig sa mga dam. Kung walang sapat at maaasahang irigasyon, bababa ang produktibidad at ani, tataas ang gastos sa produksyon, at lalong malalagay sa alanganin ang seguridad sa pagkain ng bansa," ani Ramos. Sa Barangay Balangibang, Polangui sa Albay, hindi makapagtanim ang mga magsasaka ng palay dahil sa kakulangan ng tubig. Hindi pa rin sapat ng tubig kahit naglagay na ng submersible solar pumping system ang National Irrigation Administration (NIA). Nasa 30 ektaryang palayan ang hindi mataniman dahil hindi mapadaloy ang tubig mula sa sa Kabilogan River papunta sa mga sakahan. Ganito rin ang problema sa maraming sakahan sa Malolos at Plaridel sa Bulacan.

Nanawagan ang KMP ng rehabilitasyon at pagpapalawak ng mga sistema ng irigasyon, protektahan ang mga watershed, magbigay ng ayuda sa mga magsasakang naaapektuhan ng El Nino. Tinatayang mula 15% to 30% ng annual rice output ng bansa ang mababawas dahil sa epekto ng tagtuyot at El Nino.

"Ang krisis sa tubig ay krisis din sa pagkain. Walang kabuhayan at pagkain ang gma magsasaka at lalong tataas ang presyo ng pagkain para kapag nagkulang ng suplay," pagtatapos ni Ramos. # # #

05/08/2026

Ano bang mayroon sa Abra?

Mayaman ang probinsya ng Abra, katulad ng iba pang probinsya sa Kordilyera at sa buong Pilipinas. Kaya ganun na lang din ang pagkukumahog ng mga kumpanya, sa panunulsol ng estado, para kunin ang likas nitong kayamanan.

May interes ang mga kompanya ng minas sa Abra, lalo na at alam nilang may malaking deposito ng metallic minerals tulad ng gold, silver at copper, at ng non-metallic minerals tulad ng clay at limestone.

Noong Marso 2026, nagsubmit ng mga resolution ang tatlong barangay ng Lacub laban sa pagmimina ng Golden Lake Minerals Resources, Inc. Nitong Abril 2026, naging malakas ang oposisyon ng mamamayan laban sa Exploration Permit Application 129 ng Yamang Mineral Corporation. Ang YMC ay subsidiary ng United Kingdom-based Metals Exploration, na siya ring may-ari ng FCF Minerals na sumira sa kabundukan at mga komunidad ng Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya. Sakop ng gustong minahin ng YMC ang mga bayan ng Sallpadan, Malibcong, Lacub at Licuan- Baay. Ang masama pa rito, mga pulis at militar ang mga es**rt nito sa komunidad.

Sa Villaviciosa at Luba, plano rin na magpatayo ng 2,000 ektarya na military complex ang Armed Forces of the Philippines. Ang lupang papatayuan nito ay lupang sakahan. Mas gusto nilang gawing kuta ito ng mga pasista (posibleng mga dayuhan pa) kaysa gamitin para sa produksyon ng pagkain.

Ang kapal ng mukha nilang maglagay ng minahan at magtayo ng himpilan sa Abra, gayong naghihirap ang mamamayan nito.

Maraming baryo ang walang maayos na daanan ng tao, walang malinis na tubig, kulang sa gamit, gamot at manggagamot ang mga ospital. Hindi pa maaasahan ang kuryente ng Abra Electric Cooperative! Patuloy na naghihirap ang mga magsasaka dahil sa mataas na presyo ng farm input, habang nananatiling binabarat ang presyo ng palay.

Sa probinsya na karamihan ay mga magsasaka, anak ng magsasaka o may mga kaanak na magsasaka, hindi ka magtataka kung bakit maraming Abreño ang pipili ng ibang landas para makakita lang ng pagbabago. Hindi tayo dapat magtaka kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay may armadong pakikibaka sa probinsya, na siya ring mga dahilan kung bakit may armadong tunggalian din sa iba't ibang panig ng Pilipinas.

Apat hanggang lima na ang naging engkwentro sa Abra mula Hulyo hanggang unang linggo pa lang ng Agosto. Ikinasawi nito ang isang lokal na kombatant si Moises Balabag noong July 19, at tatlo pang hindi napapangalanan kahapon, August 5. Naipakita lang ng mga engkwentrong ito na walang silbi at pakitang tao lang ang pag-aannounce ng gobyerno na insurgency free na ang isang probinsya.

Hindi mawawala ang "insurhensya" kung nananatiling naghihirap ang mga tao, pinagsasamantalahan, kinakamkam ang lupa, tinatayuan ng mga dambuhalang minas at dam, at lalo na kapag inees**rtan pa ng mga pulis af sundalo ang mga kompanya. Hangga't meron ang mga yan, kailangan nating kilalanin na mayroong giyera sibil sa bansa.

Hindi tunay na gustong mapuksa ng estado ang armadong tunggalian hangga't pinapaypayan at sinususugan ang pangangamkam, pang-aapi at pananamantala sa mamamayan. Ang gusto lang nitong puksain ay ang mga armado, ngunit hindi ang ugat kung bakit nag-aarmas.

Palalo! Palalo ang estado!

Itigil ang militarisasyon sa probinsya ng Abra!

05/08/2026

❗️Entako❗️

👉 Gardinero Forum & Petition Launch

👉 ATI Hall, Benguet State University Compound
👉 8 August 2026 at 9:00 AM

Organized by the Kanatengan Network, a network of vegetable gardeners from Mountain Province, Benguet and Ifugao, the forum will discuss urgent issues faced by vegetable producers, and launch a petition seeking immediate government action.

Come to learn more and support our gardineros!

𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑺𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒕𝒚! 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏'𝒔 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒔!

15/07/2026

PRESS RELEASE: Kanatengan Network, Officially Launched by Farmer Organizations and Communities in Cordillera’s Vegetable Belt

July 15, 2026

In a two-day Gardinero Workshop held on July 13–14 at the Mount Data Hotel in Bauko, Mountain Province, nearly one hundred participants representing vegetable farmer organizations and farming communities from Benguet, Ifugao, and Mountain Province came together to formally establish a new campaign network aimed at addressing the persistent and worsening issues of the vegetable industry. The new formation has been named the Kanatengan Network, a term chosen to highlight the Cordillera’s renowned cluster of municipalities across the three provinces that produce the bulk of the country’s highland vegetable supply, also called the vegetable belt. Aliansa dagiti Pesante iti Montanyosa (APIT Mon) is the lead convenor of the network.

The Gardinero Workshop was jointly organized by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and its peasant affiliate Aliansa dagiti Pesante iti Kordiliera (APIT TAKO). The activity built upon grassroots data-gathering efforts on vegetable production, with farmers presenting detailed accounts of the costs of cultivating temperate-clime crops such as cabbage, beans, sweet peas, potatoes, and sayote. These inputs provided a clear picture of the economic pressures faced by farmers and became the basis for the creation of the Kanatengan Network.

During the workshop, participants underscored the main factors driving many farmers into bankruptcy. Among these were the high costs of production, ranging from farm inputs to transportation, coupled with extremely volatile market prices. Farmers also raised alarm over the smuggling of imported vegetables and other consequences of a liberalized vegetable industry, which they said undermines local production and worsens their already precarious situation.

From these discussions, the participating organizations consolidated their demands into six urgent calls:

1. Implement a just and fair floor price for vegetables.
2. Provide sufficient agricultural subsidies to farmers.
3. Build the long-promised farm-to-market roads and improve existing ones.
4. Stop the importation of vegetables that compete with local produce.
5. Reduce usury and land rent.
6. Lower the price of farm inputs.

The Kanatengan Network is envisioned as a campaign platform that will unify vegetable farmers across the Cordillera in asserting their rights and pushing for concrete policy changes. In the coming months, the network will roll out mobilizations and activities to amplify these demands. The earliest of these will be another gathering this August, coinciding with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

The Gardinero Workshop and the launch of the Kanatengan Network were also supported by the Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center (CWEARC) and KATRIBU – Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas.

For Reference:
CPA and APIT TAKO

Ikeddeng ti nainkalintegan nga floor price!
Ited ti naan-anay nga subsidyo!
Nayunan, palawaen, ken i-repair ti Farm-to-Market Roads!
Ipasardeng ti importasyon ti nateng!
Bawasan ti usura ken abang ti daga!
Ipababa ti presyo dagiti farm inputs!
Kanatengan, Lumaban!