The Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval Monday of its proposed P216.1 billion budget for 2026, an allocation P39.4 billion higher than the original P176.7 billion.
The additional funds will support major agricultural infrastructure, expand crop insurance and strengthen productivity programs, particularly for high-impact commodities such as coconut.
Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc, who defended the DA budget during plenary debates, said the government recognizes agriculture as a vital economic pillar, employing nearly one in five Filipinos and contributing close to 10 percent of gross domestic product.
“This means direct support for hardworking farmers, better technology for our fisherfolk, and a more stable, resilient food supply for every Filipino family,” she said.
Bondoc added that while House approval is a significant step in the budget process, she will help shepherd the measure through the Senate and bicameral conference committee.
The budget increase is part of a broader realignment ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who redirected more than P250 billion in funds from controversial flood control projects toward agriculture, education and social welfare.
Of the P39.4 billion increase, P22.5 billion will go to the DA’s Office of the Secretary for flagship projects such as farm-to-market roads, cold storage facilities and solar-powered irrigation systems.
The remaining P16.9 billion will be used to fund coconut replanting, enhanced crop insurance, fish port upgrades, farm-to-mill roads in sugar areas and modern post-harvest facilities.
“This increased budget brings us closer to President Marcos’s vision of a food-secure Philippines—where agriculture is modern and investment-worthy, and farming is a viable and profitable venture,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
