The Marcos administration’s proposed 2027 national budget grows the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) allocation by 12.66% from the current year, with major provisions covering rice programs, irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and crop insurance for 2.3 million small farmers and fisherfolk, Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said Saturday.
De Leon explained the details in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on September 5, as part of the DZRH SONA 2026 Series featuring the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The President’s Budget chief said the largest single allocation for farmers is the ₱46 billion for the National Irrigation Administration, reflecting the administration’s priority to restore and develop irrigation systems that are critical for both productivity and resilience against El Niño.
“46 billion naman para sa NIA, para sa patuloy na pag-restore at pag-develop ng ating irrigation system na alam natin, lalo ngayon ‘yun, kailangang-kailangan para sa papasok na El Niño,” De Leon said.
The ₱30 billion National Rice Program and a separate ₱30 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund together form the backbone of the government’s rice sector support, covering seeds, machinery and equipment, and farmer resilience programs.
A further ₱10 billion is allocated for Rice for All, the program that connects affordable rice to ordinary consumers, while ₱16 billion goes to farm-to-market roads to help farmers move their produce to markets more easily and at lower cost.
“Meron din tayong 16 billion para sa mga farm-to-market roads, para mai-konekta yung ating mga farmers, maibenta nila yung mga produce nila nang mas madali sa ating merkado,” De Leon said.
The ₱4.5 billion crop insurance provision specifically covers 2.3 million small farmers and fisherfolk, a safety net against losses from typhoons, floods, and other calamities that De Leon said has become increasingly important given the intensifying weather events affecting agricultural areas nationwide.
De Leon stressed that the DA’s 12.66% budget increase is in line with Marcos administration’s commitment to ensuring that farmers and fisherfolk are not left behind in the country’s economic growth, and that the investments in rice, roads, and irrigation collectively aim to improve both farmer income and food security.
