The Department of Agriculture (DA), under the leadership of Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., is embarking on a transformative multi-year budget planning process designed to maximize the impact of its limited resources on the lives and livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk.
Secretary Laurel said the new initiative is part of a broader strategy to achieve more meaningful results in the DA’s programs, ensuring that every peso spent contributes directly to achieving long-term goals such as poverty reduction, farmer welfare, and sustainable economic growth.
A major development in this process is the introduction of a standardized set of criteria to evaluate the department’s programs, activities, and projects.
These criteria, according to Secretary Laurel, are designed to assess the impact of proposed initiatives on critical areas such as poverty reduction, income improvement for farmers and fishers, enhanced nutrition, and reducing dependency on food imports. Additionally, the program and budget evaluation will focus on the cost efficiency, feasibility, and the technical and absorptive capacity of implementing agencies.
He also underscored the need to move away from a “business-as-usual” approach, urging DA officials to challenge the status quo in pursuit of agricultural transformation. His call reflects the department’s commitment to fostering innovation and accountability as it works toward building a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.
The DA’s four-year framework, Para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas, will guide the department’s budget planning and strategic initiatives. This framework is aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s agenda to significantly reduce the country’s poverty rate from 18 percent to 9 percent by 2028. In this context, the newly established evaluation criteria will not only enhance resource allocation but also serve as a tool to measure progress toward these national development goals.
A cornerstone of this strategy is strengthening the resilience and efficiency of the agriculture and fisheries sectors to create a more equitable environment for farmers, fishers, and rural communities.
“Through this initiative, we aim to maximize the benefits of our investments to ensure food security for the nation and uplift the lives of our rural heroes—our farmers and fisherfolk,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.
With the adoption of a clear, criteria-driven approach, the DA is taking decisive steps to ensure that its programs and policies directly benefit the most vulnerable sectors of society. Through careful planning and focused execution, the department is committed to building a stronger, more sustainable and resilient agricultural economy for future generations.
