AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday urged senators to support the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposed P198.4-billion budget for 2027, warning that millions of farmers and fisherfolk face a “perfect storm” of climate threats, rising production costs and geopolitical shocks.
During a Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the DA’s proposed budget, Tiu Laurel said a worst-case El Niño scenario could affect as many as 4.6 million people engaged in agriculture.
He said that while the government could not control the weather or global oil prices, it could strengthen farmers’ and fisherfolk’s ability to withstand their effects.
“Today, we seek your support for the Department of Agriculture’s proposed 2027 budget at a time when our farmers and fisherfolk face a perfect storm,” Tiu Laurel told senators, citing worsening climate risks and rising prices of fuel, fertilizer and other essential inputs.
“We cannot demand cheap food while leaving farmers struggling to afford to produce it,” he added.
The proposed budget seeks to improve productivity through quality seeds, better inputs and modern technologies, while expanding farm-to-market roads, cold-chain systems and post-harvest facilities.
The DA also plans to strengthen links between producers and markets to help farmers and fisherfolk earn more from their output.
Funding for climate resilience, disaster preparedness and biosecurity aims to reduce losses from drought, spoilage and crop diseases that threaten rural incomes and food supplies.
Agriculture’s share of the Philippine economy fell to 7.9 percent in 2025 from 10.1 percent in 2020, even as the sector remains a major source of employment, accounting for one in every five jobs in the country.
Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez, who presented the proposed budget, highlighted the sector’s resilience during the pandemic, when other parts of the economy faltered.
He said this underscored the need for greater investment in productivity and the restoration of the DA’s capacity to provide agricultural extension services.
Irrigation alone would require P1.2 trillion to bring an additional 1.2 million hectares under irrigation, strengthening rice self-sufficiency and food security, Perez said.
Another P50 billion would be needed for post-harvest facilities, while farm-to-market roads, fish ports and other infrastructure would require billions more.
Tiu Laurel said that public investment must be matched by accountability, with assistance reaching small farmers, fisherfolk and agrarian communities.
“A nation cannot eat budget figures,” he said, arguing that well-targeted investments could help stabilize prices, strengthen rural economies and improve the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos.
State of calamity
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, urged the government to consider declaring a national state of calamity as El Niño damages crops and livelihoods in five regions, with the DA projecting a potential loss of 700,000 metric tons of palay production in the second half of 2027.
Pangilinan cited P6.87 billion in agricultural losses from drought as of Sept. 26, warning that the damage could worsen as the strong El Niño is expected to persist through the first half of 2027.
“The executive department should seriously consider a state of calamity declaration so we can better address the challenges of Super El Niño,” Pangilinan said.
He said the projected loss of 700,000 metric tons of palay would be equivalent to the annual rice requirements of about 3.6 million Filipinos.
Pangilinan also questioned the pace of government assistance, saying only 2.53 million of the 11.12 million targeted beneficiaries had received aid as of Oct. 6, based on figures he presented.
He called for stronger preparations to protect agricultural production and the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk from prolonged drought, extreme heat and water shortages.
“The center of the 2027 DA budget should be water and irrigation,” Pangilinan said, urging adequate funding for water-storage facilities and immediate assistance to affected communities.
Worst-case scenario
Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel said the strongest effects of El Niño were expected between January and April 2027.
Under the DA’s worst-case scenario, as many as 4.6 million farmers and fisherfolk could be affected, with agricultural damage potentially reaching P20 billion and about 350,000 hectares of farmland impacted.
Tiu Laurel said the department was accelerating irrigation projects and coordinating with other agencies to provide emergency assistance to affected communities.
“We’re pooling our funds,” he said, referring to discussions with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment on assistance for farmers and fisherfolk who lose their livelihoods.
Support could include cash aid, food packs and temporary employment through government programs, including canal construction and land preparation.
The DA is also coordinating with the Department of Health and the Office of Civil Defense to strengthen the response.
To protect agricultural production, the DA is fast-tracking solar-powered irrigation systems, with P1.6 billion allocated for the initiative this year and additional funding being considered for 2027.
The department is also preparing solar-powered paddle wheels to maintain oxygen levels in fishponds and lakes during extreme heat and reduce the risk of fish kills. It is working with the National Irrigation Administration to promote alternate wetting and drying, a water-saving technique for rice cultivation.
Other planned interventions include small water-impounding facilities, fuel assistance, seed distribution and logistics support.
The DA intends to concentrate additional production assistance in areas with sufficient water to help offset losses in drought-stricken provinces.
The department is also counting on the P10-billion Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk allocation in the House-approved 2027 spending bill to provide direct cash aid to affected producers.
