The Department of Agriculture (DA) said agricultural investment has benefited from progressively higher budgets since President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. took office. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. highlighted the increased resources in a keynote address at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines’ Food Security Forum in Makati City, as reported by BusinessWorld.
Laurel noted that the DA’s budget has seen consistent increases, allowing the department to fund infrastructure, modernize farming techniques, and expand credit programs for farmers and fisherfolk. The push aims to raise farm productivity and reduce the country’s dependence on food imports.
The DA chief emphasized that sustained funding is essential to achieving food security targets, particularly as the government works to stabilize rice prices and support local producers. The forum also tackled other agricultural policy measures under consideration to boost the sector’s resilience.