THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said a budget of P216.1 billion will help the Philippines achieve food security and raise incomes for agricultural workers industry.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said at a Senate hearing that chronic underfunding of agriculture has worsened farmer poverty as well as the trade deficit in farm goods.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 27% of farmers and 27.4% of fisherfolk living in extreme poverty
“As their representatives, it is our duty to be their advocates — to speak for them, to help them fulfill their dreams, realize their hopes, and empower them not only to uplift their own lives but also to sustain the tens of millions of Filipinos who rely on them for nourishment,” Mr. Laurel said.
The budget Mr. Laurel is proposing would represent a 21.22% increase from the budget approved in 2025.
The DA plans to focus its spending on modernizing the industry, increasing incomes, and building climate resilience. — Andre Christopher H. Alampay
