Davao sounds alarm on bee decline as farms face pollination threat

DAVAO CITY (May 19) — Agriculture leaders in Davao are pushing stronger protection for bees ahead of World Bee Day on May 20, warning that the unchecked decline of pollinators could threaten food supply, crop production, and the livelihoods of farmers across the region.

Epifanio Loyola Jr., chairperson of the Department of Agriculture Regional Agri-Fishery Council 11 and president of the Beekeepers Network Philippines Foundation Inc., said bees remain vital to agriculture because they drive the pollination needed for fruits, vegetables, and other crops to grow.

But he warned that pesticide-heavy farming practices are steadily wiping out larger honey bees locally known as “putyukan,” raising fears of lower harvests in communities dependent on agriculture.

“Even Asean countries are promoting beekeeping because bees are a major part of pollination,” Loyola said, noting that many crops could suffer once pollinator populations collapse.

The warning comes as beekeeping continues to grow in Davao, with more residents turning to honey production and native bee conservation as alternative sources of income.

Loyola said local beekeepers are helping protect stingless bee species that produce honey while supporting pollination in farms and backyard gardens.

He also highlighted the rediscovery in 2023 of Apis florea — one of the world’s smallest bee species — in parts of Davao after it was last documented in the Philippines in 1937.

The species was found in areas including the Island Garden City of Samal, where locals believe the tiny bees help improve the sweetness and quality of Samal mangoes.

Despite the growing awareness, Loyola said stronger action is still needed to protect pollinators before agricultural losses worsen.

He noted that some countries already rent bee colonies to sustain commercial farming, while the Philippines still relies largely on natural pollinator populations that are now under pressure from chemical use and habitat loss.

In response, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research and University of the Philippines Los Baños will launch a study on June 6 to measure the contribution of bees to Davao’s mango industry and identify measures to protect pollinator species.

Researchers will also study the “biroi,” a stingless bee species found in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, known for producing honey and supporting local biodiversity.