FY 2026 NEP: Nurturing future-ready generations

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In last week's article, I discussed the government's initiatives to develop and protect the capabilities of individuals and families under the P6.793 trillion Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), anchored on the first pillar of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

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This week, allow me to discuss the programs, activities, and projects we have funded under the NEP aligned with the second pillar: Transforming production sectors to generate more quality jobs and competitive products.

As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) highlighted in his PDP message, "his administration will endeavor to reduce poverty to a single-digit level by 2028 through rapid, sustained, and inclusive growth that will create more, better, and resilient jobs." In his fourth State of the Nation Address, he reiterated this, emphasizing that government agencies are working together to provide more and better opportunities, especially for the remaining four percent unemployed Filipinos.

In adherence to the President's directive, we in the Department of Budget and Management, together with other government agencies in the Executive branch, designed the 2026 proposed budget to generate more and high-quality jobs to raise incomes and increase our country's competitive advantage in the global market. We will do this by modernizing the agriculture and agribusiness sector, revitalizing industries, reinvigorating services, advancing research and development, as well as innovation, and promoting trade and investments.

Agriculture