Leyte Fourth District Rep. Richard Gomez has filed a bill seeking to declare ube a national agricultural priority.
Gomez said the measure is part of a broader effort to unlock the economic potential of ube, which he described as an underutilized but promising crop.
‘For a long time, ube was not given priority. We only recently realized that this is a golden crop,’ he said.
House Bill No. 10225, or the proposed Philippine Ube Industry Development Act, seeks to establish a comprehensive national framework for the development, promotion, and protection of the country’s ube industry.
The bill proposes declaring ube a national priority crop, creating a Philippine Ube Industry Council, and strengthening government support for research, seed production, processing, marketing, branding, and export promotion.
According to Gomez, the Philippines has suitable conditions for expanding ube production, particularly in Leyte, where vast idle lands can be planted with the crop.
‘Ube thrives in our soil, and we have many vacant areas that can be used for its production. This can be achieved with government support,’ he said.
He added that ube matures within several months, is relatively easy to cultivate, and is resilient to changing weather conditions, making it a viable alternative source of income for farmers.
‘It can be planted regardless of weather conditions and even in idle areas. It just needs a push,’ Gomez said.
He emphasized that the Department of Agriculture will play a key role in expanding the industry by ensuring the availability of quality planting materials and supporting large-scale propagation.
‘DA’s role is very, very important because it will help farmers secure tissue-cultured planting materials and expand ube production across the country,’ he said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that Eastern Visayas produced about 2,800 metric tons of ube in 2025, with Leyte accounting for about 1,900 metric tons, making the province the region’s biggest producer.
Known for its vibrant violet flesh, ube is one of the Philippines’ most recognizable food crops and is widely used in traditional and modern food products, including ube halaya, halo-halo, cakes, pastries, bread, ice cream, and other desserts.
With growing international demand for ube-based products, advocates believe the crop has strong potential to become a major agricultural export while providing higher incomes for Filipino farmers