DA seeks PHP198.45 billion for 2027 to keep food security on track

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 01, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr./Facebook

The Department of Agriculture is seeking a PHP198.45-billion budget for 2027 to sustain food production, protect farmers’ incomes and strengthen the country’s food security despite an 8-percent reduction from this year’s allocation.

The proposed budget is PHP17.25 billion lower than the PHP215.69 billion approved for the DA in 2026.

Officials said much of the reduction comes from the normalization of funding for farm-to-market roads, whose allocation dropped to PHP16 billion from last year’s PHP33-billion peak.

The proposed amount is also significantly lower than the PHP260 billion the DA initially requested from the Department of Budget and Management.

Including the National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agrarian Reform, the broader agriculture and agrarian reform budget would fall to PHP261.74 billion from PHP297.10 billion.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the reduced funding must still address major challenges confronting the sector, including rising production costs, unpredictable weather, climate risks and market uncertainty.

He stressed that investing in agriculture is ultimately an investment in food security, as the government seeks to keep production profitable for farmers while ensuring affordable food for consumers.

Some programs are set to receive higher allocations, including coffee development, fisheries projects and animal industry development, which will get an additional PHP20 billion for competitiveness.

Meanwhile, the PHP10-billion Rice-for-All allocation remains unchanged, supporting the government’s PHP20-per-kilogram rice initiative.

The DA plans to prioritize farm and fishery productivity, infrastructure, post-harvest facilities, logistics and technology to help producers capture a larger share of the agricultural value chain.

With a smaller budget envelope, Tiu Laurel said efficient implementation and stronger accountability will be crucial to ensuring that every peso produces results.

With less money on the table but the same hunger to feed the nation, the DA faces a tougher test, produce more, protect farmers and keep food within reach.