Shangrila BGC (January 16, 2026) –  Speaking at the Big Bold Reform, a business forum organized by the Department of Finance (DoF) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said long-standing problems—high rural poverty, uneven productivity, and recurring food supply shocks—have persisted despite years of public spending. “Despite sustained public spending, outcomes on the ground remain fixed,” he said. “Productivity gains have been uneven, farmer incomes remain low, and food supply shocks continue to affect consumers.”

For the Marcos administration, the reforms are meant to deliver tangible outcomes: farmers and fisherfolk earning just incomes from their hard work, a more resilient food system, and an agriculture sector that contributes more meaningfully to economic growth while attracting private investment.

Backed by a results matrix under the Philippine Development Plan and reflected in the 2026 budget, the reforms aim to translate policy into measurable outcomes. For the Marcos administration, success would mean agriculture evolving from a social protection concern into a competitive, investment-ready sector—one that delivers income, resilience, and long-term growth. ### (Photos by Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-AFID)