By TRISTAN LOZANO
A youth-led enterprise has vowed to help farmers in Luzon and other parts of the country market their “ugly” produce.
Hailey Que Yap, Oceania and Southeast Asia Winner of the Earth Prize, said Kultibado helps buyers purchase surplus, oddly shaped, but fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste.
She said this reduces food waste and methane emissions, boosts farmer incomes, and makes nutritious food more affordable.
Her pledge came as recent floods disrupted supply chains and exposed the limits of traditional infrastructure.
Yap said a 2024 study by World Weather Attribution found that climate change has increased the likelihood of Category 3 to 5 typhoons hitting the Philippines by 25 percent.
She pushed long-term flood control infrastructure than distribution and evacuations, including reliable communication during tropical cyclones.
Yap said platforms like Transportify, AgroDigital’s MoverMarket, and Google Maps can aid coordination, but farmers need targeted training and real-time updates to build confidence, especially during disasters.
Kultibado added that small-scale farmers who pool resources to deliver directly to Metro Manila face high storage rental costs, leading to spoilage, lost income, and restricted scaling operations.
Though government policies support smallholder infrastructure, local implementation gaps highlight the urgent need for practical solutions like cooperative storage models and public-private partnerships, Yap added.
