Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday urged the House of Representatives to approve in full the Department of Agriculture’s proposed ₱176.7-billion budget for 2026, calling it a “critical investment” in the country’s future and long-overdue support for farmers and fisherfolk.
Speaking before the House Committee on Appropriations, Tiu Laurel highlighted the persistent poverty in the agriculture sector, where nearly 10 million workers—roughly one in five nationwide—struggle with limited access to technology, markets, and financing.
“Our goal is not simply to grow more food—but to ensure that every Filipino family has access to healthy, affordable meals. And that those who grow our food can live lives of dignity, not desperation,” he said.
The proposed budget focuses on five key areas: increasing productivity, modernizing operations, strengthening value chains, expanding market access, and protecting livelihoods. Programs include improved irrigation, crop insurance, cold storage, digital tools, and initiatives like Kadiwa ng Pangulo and Rice for All.
Tiu Laurel emphasized the need to align investments with the sector’s economic contribution, urging lawmakers to reimagine farming and fishing as pathways to prosperity, not poverty.
“Let’s build a future where the child of a farmer no longer dreams of leaving the farm—but of improving it,” he said.
