Even at the proposed P200.195 billion budget for the Department of Agriculture (DA), as submitted by the Department of Budget and Management, the DA said this would be insufficient for it to pursue modernization and fully support farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders in the food production sector.
For this, the DA found support from several lawmakers during the meeting of the 2025 budget deliberations at the House Committee on Appropriations.
Committee senior vice chair Representative Stella Luz Quimbo (Marikina) stressed the urgent need for strategic and efficient allocation of the proposed P200.195 billion budget for 2025 to address the longstanding agricultural issues affecting the agriculture sector.
Quimbo highlighted the sector’s vital role in ensuring food security and sustainable livelihood for farmers and fisherfolk so it could contribute 8.6 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
"Achieving food security is not just a goal but a fundamental mandate that the DA must prioritize," opined Quimbo.
Insufficient budget
The low proposed budget for DA manifests this administration’s low prioritization for the sector and the need to boost agricultural productivity, as current and past leaders have shown bias for importation of most food items, rather than producing them locally.
The recent reduction of tariff for rice and other agricultural products to 15 percent up to 2025 is a clear indication of the bias for importation, which prompted some farm groups to prefer calling the agency Department of Importation.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. admitted to the panel that the proposed budget for next year is insufficient to fully address the numerous challenges confronting the sector as he cited the need for significant investments in achieving the promised “Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas.”
"We must enhance the Philippine agriculture (sector) to make it more productive, competitive and resilient to support our growing population and build prosperous rural communities," the papers quoted him saying.
He admitted that DA initially requested P500 billion for 2025 and to secure at least P250 billion if the full amount cannot be granted.
Making do
Asked by AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee of the DA's plans under the current proposed lower budget, Laurel said the DA will focus on improving the underperforming and economically-disadvantaged areas and in areas where agricultural gains are bigger.
He added that richer areas can produce better and would not need as much government support.
He bared plans to link agricultural markets for the efficient distribution of goods, reducing post-harvest losses, improving farmers' market access and ultimately enhancing food security and economic growth.
Deputy Speaker Antonio “Tonypet” Albano showed support in restoring their originally requested 2025 budget of P500 billion, or at the very least, to increase it by an additional P100 billion.
Representative Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) cited the need for a "near unanimous consensus" from the members of Congress to increase the DA's budget.
Other lawmakers' arguments on reducing P12.9 billion from the 2024 GAA to the current P200.2 billion, with only 3.15 percent of the national budget allocated to agriculture, is significantly lower than that of neighboring ASEAN and Asian countries.
Representative Tobias Tiangco (Navotas) was designated to sponsor the DA’s budget once deliberations reach the plenary.
Laurel said the persistent challenges plaguing the country's agri-fishery sector emphasize the urgency of increasing funding for DA.
"For the past three decades, our agri-fishery sector has faced persistent challenges with low productivity and competitiveness," he said.
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