The meeting, co-chaired by DFA Undersecretary for Policy Leo M. Herrera-Lim and Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Olexandr Mischenko, underscored the urgency of building resilient partnerships as conflicts and economic disruptions continue to reshape global dynamics.

Officials from both sides, including Philippine Ambassador to Ukraine Alan L. Deniega and Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv, discussed expanding cooperation in defense, cybersecurity, innovation, trade, agriculture, energy, and health; these sectors are seen as critical in navigating shared vulnerabilities.

The consultations come more than a decade after the inaugural round in Kyiv and follow a series of high-level engagements, including the meeting between Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the latter’s visit to Manila in 2024.

The opening of Ukraine’s embassy in Manila later that year further signaled a strengthening of bilateral ties.

Beyond bilateral issues, both sides exchanged views on regional and global developments, with Manila outlining priorities under its ASEAN chairship and Kyiv sharing updates on efforts toward a just and lasting peace.

In a world marked by shifting alliances, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to sustained dialogue, multilateral engagement, and the rules-based international order.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the fuel and food situation was assessed during a Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) committee meeting presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Good news, dahil sa ngayon ang buffer stock ng supply ng langis ay tumaas mula 52 hanggang 54 days. At napag-usapan din ang malawakang rollback sa presyo ng diesel,” Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

“At ayon din kay Secretary Kiko (Francisco) Tiu Laurel Jr., may sapat na supply bigas, chicken, at pork sa Pilipinas na aabot sa katapusan ng taon,” she added.

Alongside these updates, Malacañang said it will propose to Congress the UPLIFT Bill, aimed at unlocking government funds and accelerating support for key sectors amid ongoing global uncertainties.

“Napag-usapan sa UPLIFT committee meeting ang balak gawing batas na UPLIFT Bill. Layunin nito, una, alisin ang dalawang taong pagbabawal sa pagsasama sa panukalang budget ng mga item na idineklarang ipon o savings,” Castro said.

“Pangalawa, magbibigay ito ng listahan ng mga programs, activities and projects na maaaring pondohan. At pangatlo, bibigyan ng kakayahan ang pamahalaan na magamit ang unreleased appropriations at unobligated allotment mula sa FY 2025 at FY 2026 GAA,” she added.

Castro described the proposed measure as urgent, noting its alignment with current economic and geopolitical conditions.

The developments come under Executive Order No. 110, signed on March 24, 2026, which declared a state of national energy emergency in light of the conflict in the Middle East. The order also institutionalized UPLIFT as the government’s whole-of-government response framework to stabilize energy supply, sustain economic activity, and protect vulnerable sectors.

Malacañang said the proposed bill is intended to strengthen fiscal flexibility and improve the government’s ability to respond to emerging national priorities.

The public may also access the UPLIFT website (www.uplift.dbm.gov.ph), which outlines government programs anchored on five pillars: saving lives, ensuring sufficient fuel supply, assisting sectors in need, keeping food prices within reach, and ensuring electricity supply.

This move solidifies the ongoing bilateral recognition of HPAI-free zones, ensuring that trade from designated areas remains uninterrupted.

Following an evaluation by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the UK was confirmed to maintain robust veterinary oversight and effective mitigation measures, resulting in a low risk of importing infected products from approved zones.

The circular covers live birds, both poultry and non-poultry, including day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and poultry meat, provided these originate from UK areas certified as free from HPAI.

At the core of the policy is “regionalization,” a risk-based approach that allows trade to continue from specific areas of a country proven to be free of disease, even if outbreaks occur elsewhere within its borders.

This means the Philippines can source poultry products from unaffected zones in the UK instead of imposing a blanket nationwide ban, helping ensure more stable and diversified food supply channels.

The move builds on the United Kingdom’s existing system accreditation to export poultry products to the Philippines and aligns with DA Administrative Circular No. 09, series of 2025, which outlines guidelines for recognizing disease-free zones in partner countries.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the policy supports efforts to stabilize supply while safeguarding public health.

“Regionalization gives us flexibility in sourcing food while maintaining strict safeguards,” Tiu Laurel said.

“This strengthens food security by ensuring a steady and safe supply of poultry products for Filipino consumers, even when animal disease outbreaks occur abroad,” he added.

All imports will remain subject to agreed import terms and conditions, as well as existing DA regulations on animal health and food safety.

The circular will take effect 15 days after publication on the DA’s official website and upon filing with the Office of the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center in Diliman, Quezon City.” 

This was according to a Department of Foreign Affairs release dated April 23 from Jakarta.

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Sugiono, Indonesia’s foreign minister, co-chaired the ministerial meeting, where both sides emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation as maritime nations navigating shared vulnerabilities—from sea security to energy supply disruptions.

The discussions highlighted the urgency of ensuring stable energy access and secure sea lanes, particularly as global conflicts continue to affect fuel prices, logistics, and food systems across the region.

Both countries committed to pursuing solutions not only at the national level but also through broader regional coordination with fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members.

The JCBC, the highest bilateral dialogue mechanism between the two neighbors, reviewed ongoing initiatives and mapped out future collaboration under the Philippines-Indonesia Plan of Action (2022–2027). Talks covered a wide range of priorities, including defense and maritime cooperation, border agreements, trade and investments, and food security.

Energy cooperation emerged as a key pillar, alongside efforts to secure maritime domains—critical for two archipelagic states dependent on open and safe sea routes for trade and resource movement.

Both sides also exchanged views on pressing regional issues, including developments in Myanmar, tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border, and the situation in the South China Sea. They acknowledged that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to have “profound impact” on ASEAN, particularly on energy and food security.

In response, Secretary Lazaro and Minister Sugiono committed to support regional approaches in addressing these shared challenges, underscoring ASEAN’s role as a platform for collective resilience.

Ahead of the ministerial meeting, senior officials from both countries convened to review the status of bilateral agreements and negotiations aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two maritime neighbors.

The JCBC mechanism, established in 1993, has gained renewed momentum, having been convened twice under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after a decade-long hiatus, highlighting Indonesia’s importance as a key regional partner.

The Philippines and Indonesia, which established diplomatic relations in 1949, share one of the region’s oldest bilateral ties. Both are founding members of ASEAN, a relationship that continues to evolve as they confront shared geopolitical and economic challenges.

In a statement on Earth Day (April 22), ATM said that the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB) must be prioritized. It called for the repeal of the 1995 Mining Act, arguing that existing policies have failed to protect communities and the environment.

The group also directly called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to act in favor of communities opposing mining operations, particularly those who have mounted barricades in Dupax del Norte in Nueva Vizcaya, Manicani and Homonhon islands in Eastern Samar, MacArthur in Leyte, and Sibuyan Island in Romblon.

“These communities are calling for a halt to mining operations and the cancellation of mining contracts in their respective areas. Earth Day is a timely reminder to the DENR to act on the residents’ demands and to make erring mining companies accountable for their violations and breaches,” said Jaybee Garganera, ATM national coordinator.

ATM maintained that without decisive government action, conflicts between mining firms and host communities will continue to escalate, especially in ecologically sensitive and disaster-prone areas.

Garganera warned that mining activities are compounding the country’s climate vulnerabilities.

“Measures to address the climate crisis and ensure the survival of the planet should include reforms in the government’s policies on large-scale mining. Mining in many communities today is causing environmental degradation, worsening the impacts of climate change, and endangering the lives and livelihoods of the people,” he said.

He stressed that a new law must ensure that the country’s mineral wealth benefits Filipinos, particularly as demand rises with the global shift to renewable energy.

“It is unjust that other countries benefit from our minerals while our communities suffer from the destruction caused by mining,” he added.

ATM said the proposed AMMB would designate “no-go zones” for mining, covering critical watersheds, biodiversity areas, disaster-prone zones, agricultural lands, and forests. It also seeks to strengthen indigenous peoples’ rights and ensure local communities have a decisive voice in mining projects.

“A just energy transition entails replacing the Mining Act with the AMMB. This is a concrete climate action that the government must urgently undertake towards nation-building and the wise and discriminating use of our minerals and natural resources,” Garganera said.

In a statement issued April 13, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations warned that disruptions in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints could ripple across global markets and destabilize economies, particularly in Asia.

“We call for the restoration of the safe, unimpeded, and continuous transit passage of vessels and aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz… as well as for all parties to ensure the safety of seafarers and ships,” the ministers said.

The 11-nation grouping also pushed for strict compliance with the ceasefire agreed on April 8 between the United States and Iran, stressing the need to prevent further escalation.

“We call for the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire… minimizing disruption to the flow of energy and essential goods, and mitigating its adverse impact on global economic stability,” the statement read.

ASEAN urged all parties to return to negotiations despite the breakdown in talks as of Sunday, warning that continued hostilities threaten both regional and global stability.

“We urge the United States… and the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue negotiations that will lead to the permanent end of the conflict and lasting peace and stability in the region,” it said.

The bloc also called on all sides to “exercise utmost restraint, cease all hostilities, [and] avoid any acts that may aggravate the situation.”

ASEAN is a regional bloc working together on economic, political, and security issues. With a combined population of over 670 million and a roughly $3.6 trillion economy, it is among the world’s largest economic groupings.

The region is highly sensitive to disruptions in global energy supply chains. The Strait of Hormuz—located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman—is a critical chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s oil and LNG passes.

A large share of that energy is bound for Asia. Estimates suggest nearly 90% of oil shipments through Hormuz head to Asian markets, with Southeast Asian economies heavily reliant on Middle Eastern crude and gas imports.

Any disruption to this route can quickly translate into higher fuel costs, rising food prices, and broader inflation pressures, particularly for energy-importing countries.

The ASEAN statement comes amid a rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East following a two-week ceasefire agreement announced on April 8 involving the United States and Iran, with mediation by Pakistan and indirect involvement of Israel.

While the deal included commitments to pause major attacks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz for safe energy shipments, the truce has proven fragile.

News reports indicate that violations have already occurred on multiple fronts; fighting continues in areas such as Lebanon, where the ceasefire terms remain unclear; and peace negotiations have stalled as of Sunday, raising the risk of renewed escalation.

Analysts describe the situation as a “dangerous pause,” a temporary de-escalation rather than a durable peace.

Against this backdrop, ASEAN underscored the need for diplomacy and adherence to international law.

“We underscore the importance of maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity… and promoting earnest dialogue and diplomacy as the primary means of addressing conflicts,” the ministers said.

The bloc also reiterated that all states must “resolve their differences through peaceful means,” protect civilians, and respect sovereignty — principles it warned are critical to preventing a wider global crisis.

This was the key message delivered to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, where agroecology was presented not just as an environmental option, but as a concrete economic solution to rising fuel and fertilizer costs.

Ramon S. Uy, Southeast Asia councilor of Slow Food International, told senators that farmers using organic methods are far less exposed to oil price volatility, which directly affects chemical fertilizer production and transport.

“When global oil prices surged in 2006, the cost of a 50-kilogram bag of chemical fertilizer increased from 500 pesos to 2,500 pesos. However, organic farmers were not affected. By producing our own fertilizer from biodegradable waste, we became independent of imported materials. As fertilizer prices rise sharply once again, this lesson becomes even more urgent. Today, the price of chemical fertilizers is 2,600–2,800 pesos per bag; last week, it was 1,900 pesos,” Uy said.

The Senate inquiry, conducted under Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s Proposed Senate Resolution No. 346, is examining how rising energy costs — now aggravated by geopolitical tensions — are impacting farmers and fisherfolk, and whether government support is enough.

Uy cited decades of on-the-ground experience showing how agroecology can cushion farmers from global shocks. Beginning in 2005, his group developed large-scale organic fertilizer production using vermicomposting and bokashi methods — converting biodegradable waste into farm inputs.

The system has since reached a capacity of 200 tons of organic fertilizer monthly, offering a stable and affordable alternative to imported chemical fertilizers.

Through technology-sharing initiatives, these methods have been adopted by more than 10,000 communities nationwide, helping strengthen local food systems while addressing waste management challenges.

With fertilizer prices recently rising by about 35% amid energy market volatility, Uy warned that the country’s reliance on imported agricultural inputs leaves farmers highly vulnerable to global crises such as the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Organic farming, he stressed, provides both sustainability and competitiveness. In Negros, around 20,000 hectares have shifted to organic agriculture, with rice yields reaching up to six tons per hectare — surpassing national averages for conventional farming.

“By turning organic waste into fertilizer, we addressed multiple challenges at once: waste management, high production costs, and farmer vulnerability. Money that would have gone to imported chemicals instead circulated within local communities, supporting livelihoods and healthier food,” Uy added.

Uy urged policymakers to move beyond stopgap subsidies and invest in long-term solutions anchored in agroecology and farmer-led innovation.

“It is time to prepare the country for a future that does not rely on chemicals in agriculture. Agroecology is not a marginal alternative — it is an essential path to food security, farmer dignity, and resilience in the face of global crises,” Uy said.

At the close of the hearing, senators backed the idea of converting waste into organic fertilizer to reduce imports and build domestic capacity.

The proposal aligns with the broader advocacy of Slow Food, which promotes food systems that are “good, clean, and fair” — a model now gaining urgency as war-driven energy shocks ripple through global food supply chains.

Under JICA’s Technical Cooperation for Grassroots Projects (TCGP), the “Project to Develop Cacao and Chocolate Industries for Peace in the Bangsamoro Region” will run from January 2026 to January 2028 in collaboration with Hiroshima University and local cooperatives. The initiative focuses on strengthening the region’s emerging cacao and chocolate industry—seen as a viable pathway to inclusive growth and peacebuilding.

At its core, the project supports community-based cacao farmers in improving bean quality and adopting better post-harvest and processing practices. This addresses long-standing challenges in parts of Mindanao, where pests, diseases, and environmental pressures have affected productivity and income stability. By equipping farmers with technical knowledge and practical skills, the program aims to create more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.

Two cooperatives will serve as pilot sites. In Maguindanao del Norte, Al Noor Salam (Light of Peace) Farm will receive targeted support to enhance production consistency. In Lanao del Sur, Kakaw Meranaw will refine its chocolate-making processes and elevate product quality. Technical training—led by Hiroshima University—covers cultivation, fermentation, drying, and quality control.

Hands-on training is already underway, with the first session held in Tupi, South Cotabato from March 27 to April 1, 2026. Farmers from Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur are participating in intensive learning sessions designed to strengthen both production and processing capabilities.

Selected participants will also undergo advanced chocolate-making training in Japan, enabling them to transfer specialized skills to their communities. Central to the initiative is the concept of “Chocolate for Peace,” which positions cacao not just as an agricultural product but as a catalyst for community empowerment, social cohesion, and future market readiness.

Beyond farmer training, the project also strengthens institutions. MAFAR personnel are participating in technical sessions and remote consultations, while a regional cacao research and support network will be established across Western Mindanao to address persistent issues such as pest and disease management.

JICA said it hopes the initiative will lead to sustainable, community-driven business models for high-quality, branded cacao and chocolate from Bangsamoro—demonstrating how agriculture can contribute directly to peacebuilding.

The project also forms part of broader Philippines-Japan cooperation as both countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, underscoring a shared commitment to human security, inclusive development, and lasting peace in Mindanao.

I’ve read with bitter contempt how farmers are affected by this crisis — and the anger sits heavy because the facts are as plain as they are unforgiving.

In Benguet, a Reuters story carried by an online news organization recounts how farmers like Romeo leave their vegetable crops to rot. And all because the math of cost and profit no longer makes sense.

When it costs P18 to P20 to produce a kilo of cabbage and the farmgate price collapses to as low as P3 — even P5 to P8 on a “good” day — harvesting becomes an act of self-sabotage. Add to that the surge in fuel prices, itself a ripple from conflict in the Middle East, and the math turns cruel: labor, hauling, packaging — all rising, all eating into nothing.

So farmers stop. Buyers pull back. Consumers, squeezed by inflation, shift to cheaper, filling alternatives. And just like that, a food chain buckles from both ends.

This is why the Department of Agriculture’s fuel subsidy, finally rolling out this April, is not just welcome — it is necessary, justified spending. It promises P5,000 for farmers, P3,000 for fisherfolk, alongside a broader P10-billion cash aid program covering over 4 million beneficiaries, which is the kind of intervention that recognizes a basic truth: You cannot expect food security from producers who are bleeding.

During the Holy Week, I’ve heard of Catholic devotees trimming their Visita Iglesia routes, choosing churches closer to one another, even walking the distance, just to save on fuel. Quiet sacrifice and real adjustments are lived by Pinoys these days, knowing inflation bites, and soon the cost of food will be the bigger scourge.

Hopefully, those in government, so fond of long motorcades and frequent travel, might consider the same discipline. If meetings can be held online, perhaps they should be — stay at home, if you can’t travel without your exaggerated security convoy.

Spending should be back where it should be — with the farmers. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. says the government is doing more: mobilizing trucks to move produce, securing cheaper fertilizers, expanding Kadiwa outlets, fast-tracking farm-to-market roads, and post-harvest facilities. These are the right moves, at least on paper.

But more should be done by those in power who never tilled land nor brought crops to market. Local governments in agricultural provinces must now do the unglamorous work: Connect farmers to these subsidies, ensure the aid reaches the fields, not just the reports. This is taxpayers’ money — it must land where the pain is.

This crisis is already punishing enough without fuel. But to fail in producing our own food — in a world where supply chains are strained and imports uncertain — would be a deeper scandal.

The government must work doubly hard. And if it does — truly, decisively — perhaps this moment becomes something more than a crisis. Perhaps it becomes some form of redemption. Yes, even for Marcos Junior.

*         *         *

SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View via X app (formerly Twitter). Read current and past issues of this column at https://www.thephilbiznews.com

When you listen to the story behind Mekeni Food Corporation president Pruds Garcia, it does not feel like a typical business narrative. It reads more like a story about people — about families who had to leave, quiet sacrifices, and a longing that never truly fades.

True to his name, Garcia embodies the values of P.R.U.D.S.: purpose, resiliency, uplifting others, discipline, and stewardship.

For many Filipinos, working abroad has never been just about ambition. It has always been about responsibility. Parents leave so their children can stay in school. Families are sustained from a distance. Their decision is anchored on two things: survival and hope — survival in enduring homesickness to provide, and hope in the promise of one day embracing loved ones again.

In an exclusive interview with THEPHILBIZNEWS, Garcia shared that Mekeni continues to create opportunities not only for employees, but also for vendors who support their own families through the business.

This reality has shaped not just livelihoods, but generations of consumers.

This writer remembers being an ordinary student, enjoying Mekeni tocino before school. Years later, meeting one of the pioneers of the Philippine food industry feels like a reminder that life often comes full circle, and that sometimes, the unexpected tells the best stories.

Garcia recalls how their journey began from the ground up after the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. He returned to the Philippines after a call from his father to help run the family business. It was not an easy choice, but driven by love for family and a sense of stewardship, he took the risk.

Over time, Mekeni found a deeper purpose. What they built was not just a food brand, but something that reconnects people to where they came from.

“We want to bring back the memories back home, because we realize people who are working abroad do not [always] have the chance to go home.”

That intention became real in a chance encounter. Garcia once met a Filipino in the United States buying Mekeni’s fish balls and kikiam.

It was a simple moment, but meaningful. The man shared how the products had been part of his early struggles in the Philippines: “I want to tell the story to my family, and now they are also benefiting [from the fruits of the struggles], and they have a good life in the United States.”

Stories like this reinforced a deeper truth. Garcia even handed his business card to the man and encouraged him to learn more about the company’s journey, emphasizing that, “when they see the product from the Philippines to create memories, this is not by accident.”

Through something as simple as food, fragments of home are restored. A meal becomes a memory. A familiar taste brings back stories long untold. Even from across the world, people remain connected.

This perspective also shapes Garcia’s leadership. For him, resilience is learned and lived.

He shared another deeply personal story: After 23 years, they were blessed with a daughter, Faith.

She became a reminder to never give up, to keep believing even when the odds seem impossible. That same belief continues to guide how decisions are made and how the company moves forward.

Even in uncertain times, the focus is not just survival, but purpose: building a community that grows with impact. More than four decades of commitment to food safety and quality have positioned Mekeni as a pillar of the Philippine food manufacturing industry, bringing staple products across the country and to Filipinos worldwide.

Looking ahead, the company is eyeing expansion into Taiwan and Hong Kong to serve overseas Filipino workers.

In the end, Mekeni’s story reminds us that home is not always a place we can return to.

Sometimes, it is something we carry, with every shared meal, every memory, and every intention shaped by care.

And in its #TimplangAtin, that sense of home endures — even from miles away.