Bill seeks to revive Philippine coffee industry
New legislation proposes a national framework to boost local coffee output and reduce import dependence.
The Senate has introduced a measure that aims to rebuild the Philippine coffee sector by establishing a national development framework, creating a regulatory board, and expanding production support to help farmers compete with imported beans.
Filed on 1 December, the Philippine National Coffee Industry Development Act of 2025 seeks to address long-standing gaps in equipment, materials, infrastructure, and research that have stalled the industry’s growth.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the country’s coffee growers continue to struggle against imports, which now supply 81% of domestic consumption. “Coffee is life for many Filipinos, but for our local growers, it's a daily fight for survival against imports and limited support from the Philippine government,” he said.
The Bill proposes the creation of the Philippine Coffee Board under the Department of Agriculture to oversee sector-wide development, absorb the functions of the existing Philippine Coffee Board Inc., and coordinate with regional councils in major producing areas including Benguet, Batangas, Cavite, Davao, Bukidnon, and Sultan Kudarat.
A ten-year National Coffee Replanting and Rehabilitation Programme will distribute 150 million climate-resilient seedlings, provide technical assistance, and grant a subsidy of US$862 per hectare (PHP 50k), alongside insurance coverage for the first three years. A Coffee Credit and Insurance Programme will allocate $172.4m annually for low-interest production loans (PHP10b), $86.2m for processing and marketing loans (PHP5b), full-cost crop insurance, and a $34.5m calamity assistance fund (PHP2b).
The proposal also creates a National Coffee Research Institute under the Department of Science and Technology to develop climate-resistant varieties, improve processing technologies, and collaborate with international research bodies.
The Department of Agriculture will receive $258.6m annually for the first five years (PHP15b) to fund the initiative, with allocations for production support, research and development, processing infrastructure, marketing, institutional support, and emergency needs.
Lacson said the reforms aim to restore the Philippines’ position in global coffee production and improve farmer livelihoods, noting that “the Philippines can steadily work toward regaining its place in the global coffee sector, while building an industry that is more responsive and productive.”
