The Department of Agriculture is rolling out a broad food security strategy anchored on affordability and supply chain modernization, supported by sustained government investments programmed for 2026 and beyond.
With roughly P256.5 billion allocated to the agriculture sector under the 2026 national budget, the agency is accelerating initiatives designed to strengthen domestic food production while shielding consumers from price volatility and supply disruptions.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the country’s food security agenda is shifting toward a system-wide transformation that links farmers, infrastructure, logistics and markets.
“Food security today is not just about producing more. It is about ensuring that food moves efficiently from farms to Filipino tables at prices families can afford while farmers earn fairly,” Tiu Laurel said.
Central to the food access program is the expansion of the P20-per-kilogram rice initiative, a flagship measure to make the staple food accessible while providing a stable market for locally produced palay. The “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program is projected to benefit up to 15 million households, or about 60 million Filipinos, including low-income families, senior citizens and minimum-wage earners.
“Affordable rice is a direct intervention that protects consumers while strengthening local procurement. We want stability in both retail prices and farmgate prices,” Tiu Laurel said.
To address supply chain inefficiencies, the agency is investing in a network of large-scale agri-logistics facilities.
Key projects include the nearly P2-billion Bukidnon Food Hub and the P3.6 billion Clark Food Hub. The broader national food hub system could require total investments of around P14 billion once complementary hubs in strategic production corridors are completed.
The department is also ramping up investments in farm-level modernization to reduce post-harvest losses through the Masagana Agri-Food Infrastructure Modernization Program. Priority projects include farm-to-market roads, irrigation expansion, cold storage systems and rice dryers.
While pushing for higher domestic output, the agency maintains that a calibrated rice importation policy remains necessary to address temporary supply gaps.
“Imports are not a replacement for local production. They are a safety valve to ensure supply stability, especially when climate and global market conditions affect harvests,” Tiu Laurel said.
The roadmap undescores climate resilience through the development of adaptive crop varieties and disaster-resistant infrastructure to meet growing population demand and global market uncertainties.
