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

The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture is seeking PHP198.45 billion for 2027 to sustain food production, protect farmers’ incomes, and strengthen food security despite an 8% cut versus this year’s allocation. The proposed figure is PHP17.25 billion lower than the PHP215.69 billion approved for the DA in 2026. Officials say much of the reduction stems from “normalizing” funding for farm-to-market roads, which will drop to PHP16 billion from the previous peak of PHP33 billion. The DA’s request is also well below its earlier target of PHP260 billion 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. Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA must still address production costs, unpredictable weather, climate risks, and market uncertainty, while prioritizing productivity, infrastructure, post-harvest facilities, logistics, and technology.