The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for its P200.2 billion budget proposal for 2025 to be approved by the House Committee on Appropriations.
During a hearing on Monday, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel highlighted the urgent need for significant investments in the agricultural sector to address longstanding challenges, bolster food security, and uplift the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk.
“For the past three decades, our agri-fishery sector has faced persistent challenges with low productivity and competitiveness,” he said during the House hearing, underscoring the urgent need for change.
He painted a stark picture of the agricultural sector, grappling with low productivity, high production costs, and the persistent threat of climate change.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the DA emphasized that timely interventions have helped to mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters like El Niño.
However, the department stressed that more investment is needed to ensure long-term resilience and food security in the face of climate change, pandemics, and geopolitical tensions.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions have further exposed vulnerabilities in our food production and distribution systems,” the DA secretary said.
He stressed the government’s obligation to support farmers and fisherfolk to ensure their efforts are rewarded.
The proposed budget aims to support a multi-pronged approach to agricultural development, focusing on modernization, productivity enhancement, global competitiveness, and climate resilience.
Tiu Laurel aligned this plan with President Marcos’s vision for a “Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas,” emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and fisherfolk.
