In its 127th year of providing honest public service, the Department of Agriculture (DA) celebrates its continuing support for local farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural workers working toward a prosperous new Philippines.
Coinciding with its mandate of advancing progress and modern agriculture, through its primary programs (National Rice Program, National Corn Program, High-Value Crops Development Program, National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program, National Organic Agriculture Program, Halal Food Industry Development Program, National Livestock Program, National Fisheries Program, at iba pang local at foreign-assisted projects), the DA successfully achieved the following from January to March 2025:
Distributing production and trade support, training services, irrigation programs, and mechanization initiatives to 15,164 individuals and 545 agricultural groups; Completion of the Philippine Rural Development Project at P6.64 billion (B) worth of infrastructure, farm-to-market roads, and others for 25,556 people, 42 groups, and 179,224 households nationwide; Providing access to credit services to 4,959 individuals worth P512.86 million (M) with the assistance of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council; Provision of P243.117 M compensation by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation for 827,579 farmers and fisherfolk; Implementing the P20 Rice program—then just part of the aspirations of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—to make food affordable, especially for senior citizens, solo parents, 4Ps beneficiaries, and PWDs;
Implementing the Rice-for-All Program, Kadiwa ng Pangulo, strengthened food mobilization, and strengthened institutional linkages to reduce the prices of basic commodities and improve the livelihoods and quality of life of local producers and vendors; and having the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement confiscates over P352.55 M worth of contraband, as part of interventions for fair competition in the market and safe food for every Filipino.
These are just a few of the DA’s achievements in the first quarter of the year; but they attest to the skill, strength, dedication, and perseverance of the DA Family under the leadership of Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. Together with every industry stakeholder, every DA officer and staff member is bringing to life quality and inclusive steps towards a vibrant agricultural sector that can uplift farmers and fisherfolk and compete at the global level.
