General articles are free for 24 hours after publish.
DA seeks P198.45B budget for 2027 to boost food security
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) is requesting a P198.45 billion budget for 2027, an 8% decrease from the current year's allocation. The proposed budget prioritizes strengthening food security through initiatives like improving farm-to-market access and addressing climate change impacts. A key factor for the reduced figure is the normalization of funding for farm-to-market road projects.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking a budget of P198.45 billion for 2027 amid ongoing initiatives to advance the country’s farm sector. On Tuesday, the DA said in a statement the proposed allocation is 8 percent lower than this year’s approved budget of P215.69 billion. READ: DA aims to sustain agri growth but says P500B yearly needed It is also significantly lower than the initially proposed budget of P260 billion submitted to the Department of Budget and Management for 2027. The agency primarily attributed the reduced budget to the normalization of the farm-to-market road budget, noting that funding for FMR projects will revert to P16 billion in 2027 after doubling to P33 billion this year. Higher allocations for programs, including coffee development, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ projects and P20 billion for animal industry development and competitiveness partially offset reductions in other programs, such as support for attached agencies and digitalization. The government has kept the budget for the Rice-for-All program, which supports the P20-per-kilogram subsidized rice initiative, at P10 billion. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the reduced funding must still address a sector grappling with high production costs, changing weather patterns, climate risks and market uncertainty. “This is not simply an investment in agriculture. It is an investment in food security,” Tiu Laurel said during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives. READ: DA welcomes House approval of proposed P216.1-B 2026 budget Tiu Laurel assured lawmakers that the DA will use its budget allocation efficiently, carefully, effectively, and with full accountability. Despite lower funding, the DA will prioritize programs aimed at bolstering agricultural production, improving infrastructure, reducing postharvest losses, strengthening logistics and market access, and expanding the use of technology. “It also aims to strengthen agriculture and fisheries value chains so farmers and fisherfolk can capture a larger share of the value they create, while making the sector more resilient to climate and market disruptions,” it added. /pai
Original source
Inquirer Business