A party-list lawmaker on Monday sought to restore the original budget proposal of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for 2025 amounting to PHP513.8 billion.

During the budget briefing of the House Committee on Appropriations, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee called for an increase in the DA’s budget from the PHP200.2 billion proposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for next year.

“Priority ba natin talaga ang agrikultura? Seryoso ba tayo dito? Dahil ang nabasa ko, sinabi ni [DA] Secretary [Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.], PHP513 billion ang request niya. Ngayon, nakita ko PHP200 billion lang ang binigay. Ang laki ng difference. Paano natin pabababain ang presyo ng pagkain kung kulang ang inilaan na pondo para sa agrikultura? (Is agriculture really our priority? Are we serious about this? Because what I’ve read is that the Secretary said PHP513 billion was his request. Now, what I’ve seen is that only PHP200 billion was given. That is a huge difference. How are we supposed to lower food prices if we have insufficient funds for agriculture?),” Lee said.

Lee said a higher budgetary allocation is necessary to increase agricultural productivity and lower food prices.

“Dapat ibigay yung ni-request ng ahensya, at gastusin nang tama para maramdaman agad ng mamamayan (We should grant the request of the agency and spend it right so that it can be felt by the citizens),” Lee said.

Lee’s call was echoed by some lawmakers, including Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., and TGP Party-list Rep. Jose Teves Jr., among others.

“Kailangan nating suportahan ang budget ng Department of Agriculture (We need to support the budget of the Department of Agriculture),” Teves said.

Lee vowed to work closely with the DA submit his proposed amendments to increase the agency’s capital outlay for next year.

“May pondo ang gobyerno… Ano pa ang hinihintay natin? Murang pagkain, mataas na produksyon, gawin na natin (The government has funds… What are we waiting for? Cheaper food, higher productivity, let’s do it),” Lee said.

Toward a Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas

Laurel, meanwhile, underscored the need for substantial investments in agriculture in order to deliver on the Marcos administration’s promise of a “Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas” (A Prosperous New Philippines).

This program focuses on expanding agri-fisheries areas for increased production, modernizing agri and fishery production systems, and developing and improving post-harvest systems and infrastructures, among others.

Laurel said the agri-fishery sector is crucial for increasing food availability, reducing food insecurity, and alleviating malnutrition.

“It holds the promise of breaking the cycle of conflict and poverty, we must enhance Philippine agriculture to make it more productive, competitive, and resilient to support our growing population and build prosperous rural communities,” he said.

Laurel noted that the DA’s budget for 2025 amounting to PHP200.2 billion would fund essential interventions for agricultural modernization, as well as increase productivity, global competitiveness, and resilience against disasters, climate change and pandemics.

Laurel said the agency’s budget is part of a national plan aimed at addressing rising prices, reducing poverty and ensuring that “every Filipino benefits from economic growth”.

“We have prepared this budget with careful consideration of its importance to the President’s governance reforms and initiatives. We are committed to managing it with transparency and efficiency. We aspire for a prosperous, stable, and comfortable life for our farmers and fishers,” he said.

Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the DA plays a crucial role in ensuring the country’s food security, thus the need to provide sufficient funding and support for the agriculture sector.

“Ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda ang pundasyon ng seguridad sa pagkain ng bansa. Sila ang nagdadala ng pagkain sa mesa ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Tungkulin natin na tiyakin na ang kanilang pagsisikap ay kinikilala at sapat na sinusuportahan (Our farmers and fisherfolk are the foundation of food security in the country. They bring food to the table of every Filipino family. It is our duty to make sure that their efforts are acknowledge and aptly supported),” Quimbo said.

Quimbo recognized the interventions made by the DA, particularly the loans granted to farmers released through the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF).

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines earlier said the total loans reached PHP2.5 billion as of April 30, 2024, benefitting more than 15,400 rice farmers and 270 cooperatives with more than 21,300 member-beneficiaries.

Quimbo said the DA should strengthen programs aimed at providing insurance coverage for crops, livestock, and fisheries to guarantee the protection of the agriculture sector in the face of climate change and natural disasters.

“Ang tagumpay ng agrikultura ay tagumpay ng bawat Pilipino. Kailangan nating tiyakin na ang bawat hakbang ay nagdudulot ng konkretong suporta para sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda para sa kaunlaran ng bansa (The success of the agriculture sector is the success of every Filipino. We need to ensure that every step we make provides concrete support for our farmers and fisherfolk for the development of the nation),” she said. (PNA)