Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. called on senators Wednesday to support major reforms and increased funding for the agriculture sector, citing decades of neglect that have left Filipino farmers struggling and the country heavily reliant on food imports.
Speaking before the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform chaired by Senator Francis Pangilinan, Tiu Laurel emphasized the urgent need for infrastructure and legislative reform. He estimated that over ₱1 trillion is needed to irrigate more than a million hectares of farmland, warning that continued underinvestment only benefits foreign producers.
“Our goal is clear: import only what we need, and produce as much as we can,” he said.
Tiu Laurel urged amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which he claimed hampers the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority from ensuring stable rice supply and prices. “As currently written, RTL does not reform the rice industry—it threatens to kill it,” he told lawmakers.
He also criticized the devolution of agricultural extension services under the Local Government Code, saying it has weakened DA’s capacity to support farmers. “It’s like being a general without soldiers,” he said.
Despite systemic challenges, Tiu Laurel highlighted recent progress, including improved NFA storage capacity, the establishment of a Virology Center, and a forthcoming real-time market command center. He also cited international partnerships with Korea and France, and domestic initiatives like faster crop insurance payouts and youth agripreneurship programs.
“Let us ensure that the hands that feed the nation do not go home empty—robbed of dignity, stripped of dreams,” Tiu Laurel said, urging lawmakers to match political will with financial support.
