Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday made a strong appeal to the House of Representatives to approve in full the Department of Agriculture’s proposed ₱176.7-billion budget for 2026, calling it a critical investment in the country’s future and a long-overdue support for the nation’s food producers.
Speaking before the House Committee on Appropriations, Tiu Laurel underscored the chronic neglect of the agriculture sector—despite its role as a backbone of the Philippine economy.
He pointed out that around 10 million workers in agriculture and fisheries—around 1 in every 5 workers—continue to live in poverty, weighed down by limited access to technology, markets, and financing.
Tiu Laurel noted that the proposed budget reflects the government’s intention to modernize Philippine agriculture and uplift the countryside. ### (Photos by Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)
