Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday expressed his deep appreciation to Senator Francis Pangilinan for vowing to fight for a bigger budget for the agriculture sector—an industry that feeds the nation, supports two in every five Filipino jobs, and presents significant opportunities for future investment.
Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and serves as vice chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, met with Department of Agriculture officials during a budget briefing for the agency’s proposed PHP176.7 billion allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
Following the discussion, the senator acknowledged that the proposed budget falls short of the agency’s broader plans to modernize Philippine agriculture. He pointed out that a significant portion of the PHP250 billion earmarked for reallocation from flood control projects by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should be redirected to agriculture to address the funding gap.
“Strategically—and I’ve said this repeatedly—every year we must increase the agriculture budget until we reach half-trillion-pesos by 2028,” Pangilinan told a post-briefing interview. “But the challenge for the executive is to use our resources properly and in a timely manner. That’s why we are closely coordinating with the DA.”
In response, Secretary Tiu Laurel assured the senator that public funds will be managed efficiently and used productively, in line with President Marcos’ vision of a modernized and resilient agricultural system—one that secures food supply, stabilizes prices, and ensures better incomes for farmers.
“We must perform well if we seek more resources from our lawmakers,” Tiu Laurel said. “We owe it to our farmers, fisherfolk, and all stakeholders—as well as to the consumers—to account for every centavo entrusted to us.”
