2026 budget delivers highest agri allocation since 2010

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said on Saturday, Dec. 20, that the proposed 2026 national budget will provide the Department of Agriculture (DA) with its largest allocation since 2010.

- By DHEL NAZARIO

This marks a significant step toward boosting farmers' incomes and addressing hunger, particularly among young Filipinos, he said.

"Things finally started moving, as Gen Z would say. What used to be a side quest has become the main quest," said Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and of a Senate subcommittee for the 2026 budget.

"The 2026 budget shows agriculture becoming a priority again. The outcome we want from this budget is clear: higher incomes for our farmers and fishers, and more nutritious, affordable food for all Filipino families," he said.

The DA family's proposed budget reached a historic ₱214.39 billion, including ₱185.8 billion for the DA Office of the Secretary and ₱28.62 billion for attached agencies. Key amendments focus on areas that directly affect farm incomes and food security: credit, insurance, direct market access, and nutrition.