The House of Representatives approved higher budgets for the Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration for 2025.
It approved a budget of P200.19 billion for the DA, or 19.5 percent higher than the 2024 budget and an allocation of P42.57 billion for NIA, also up from P41.7 billion a year earlier.
“Any additional budget that we could get from Congress will allow DA to step up efforts to ensure food security, modernize agriculture, and improve the lives of millions of farmers, fishermen, and their families,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Lawmakers emphasized the need to modernize Philippine agriculture and reduce dependence on food imports, aiming to boost farm production, improve farmer incomes and address challenges in the agricultural sector, including low productivity, high costs and the impact of climate change.
Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, who sponsored the budget, highlighted the crucial role of agriculture in food security, economic growth and job creation.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, a co-sponsor, said that while the increased budgets are welcome, more might be needed to cover the sector’s needs given decades of underinvestment and the country’s growing food requirements.
She said that investing in agriculture is an investment in the country’s future, and noted that additional funding could be secured during bicameral discussions.
Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado stressed the need to modernize Philippine agriculture and improve the lives of millions who depend on it.
