The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday lauded the Senate’s approval of its proposed P184.1-billion budget for 2026, calling the decision a major step towards bolstering the country’s food security and rural development initiatives.
The DA’s spending plan, which passed during plenary debates Tuesday night, includes crucial programs aimed at enhancing production efficiency, expanding market access and modernizing the agricultural value chain.
Senators also indicated openness to increasing the agency’s funding further during the upcoming bicameral conference committee.
“Now that the Senate has passed our budget, we can plan and make sure everything is implemented properly, at the right cost, at the right time,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
He said the approval is a vital move to stabilize food supply and improve the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk.
Tiu Laurel Jr. said the budget “will plant the seeds to restore the role of the agriculture sector as a meaningful contributor to economic growth, job generation and an investment-worthy venture.”
A substantial portion of the 2026 funding is earmarked for capital investments such as post-harvest facilities and farm-to-market roads.
Senators also committed to exploring increased support for high-value crop development and additional farm-to-market roads, recognizing their potential to raise productivity, reduce costs and boost rural incomes.
Agriculture, while representing only about 8 percent of the gross domestic product, provides work to one in every five Filipino workers, underlining its importance to rural livelihoods.
Economists have long advocated for improved domestic productivity to cut import dependence, generate more jobs and save billions in foreign exchange.
