MANILA, Philippines — A Senate Finance subcommittee panel approved the proposed P198.4 billion budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies and corporations for 2027, as lawmakers called for urgent measures to protect the farm sector from climate threats and rising production costs.
During the budget hearing on Wednesday, senators pressed agriculture officials to address mounting challenges facing farmers and fisherfolk, including El Niño-related losses, expensive farm inputs, inadequate water infrastructure and market imbalances.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, questioned why farmers continued to struggle despite billions of pesos in government funding for the sector.
“The agriculture sector has a budget of roughly P200 billion, so why are our farmers still struggling?” Pangilinan said.
He cited data presented during the hearing showing that farmers earned an average daily basic pay of P387.90, saying the government should measure agricultural spending not only by the size of its budget but also by its impact on farmers’ incomes.
“We should measure not just the size of the budget, but how effectively it increases our farmers’ incomes,” he said.
Pangilinan also raised concerns over agricultural smuggling, the country's dependence on rice imports, the welfare of small fisherfolk and preparations for a possible El Niño.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, and Sens. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Erwin Tulfo and Imee Marcos also called for interventions to address the sector's immediate needs and long-term vulnerabilities.
Among the issues raised were P6.87 billion in reported El Niño-related agricultural damage, the need for water impounding facilities to capture rainwater, high fertilizer costs and trader markups, and the influx of imported meat that has put pressure on local producers.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA supported local hog raisers but faced restrictions under international trade agreements and World Trade Organization rules that limit the government's ability to impose unilateral import bans.
He said legislation could give the department broader authority to adjust import volumes when the market faces oversupply.
Tiu Laurel also told senators that the DA was preparing to resume implementing farm-to-market road projects after taking over responsibility for them from the Department of Public Works and Highways last year.
He said conditions under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, including establishing offices and hiring personnel, delayed implementation.
The release of a special allotment release order also came only in September and October, he added.
“On a positive note, we’re ready to build now and will finally be able to continue our implementation of farm-to-market roads for 2026,” Tiu Laurel said.
For 2027, the DA plans to begin pre-procurement activities based on the proposed National Expenditure Program to speed up implementation once the budget is approved, he said.
The department was also working to strengthen the capacity of the DA-Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, which will oversee construction of the roads, he added.
Under the proposed National Expenditure Program, the DA is allocated P198.4 billion for 2027, down 8 percent from its P215.7-billion budget in 2026.
Most of the department's attached agencies also face lower allocations, while the National Tobacco Administration is slated to receive a 25.87 percent increase to P699.9 million.
Tiu Laurel said the DA would prioritize long-term investments in irrigation and post-harvest infrastructure, as well as direct assistance to farmers and fisherfolk, to address production gaps and strengthen food security.
The proposed budget will be taken up by the Senate plenary as part of deliberations on the national budget.
