The Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed about P4.3 billion worth of assistance and services to 542,000 beneficiaries in 269 local government units under the government’s Handog ng Pangulo program.
The nationwide rollout includes support for rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and fisheries, as well as assistance delivered through KADIWA ng Pangulo and the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo program.
“Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, provides vulnerable sectors access to P20-per-kilo rice sourced from stocks of NFA that were procured from local rice farmers.
The package also covered the government’s “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, a flagship food program that provides vulnerable sectors access to P20-per-kilo rice sourced from stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA) that were procured from local rice farmers.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the assistance is intended to address the practical needs of farmers.
“We want to make sure our farmers have the support they need to produce more, earn more, and build more secure livelihoods,” Tiu Laurel said.
The DA’s contribution forms part of Handog ng Pangulo 2026, which the Office of the President culminated on Sept. 14 as part of activities marking President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s birthday.
Under the banner “Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” the program seeks to bring government services and assistance closer to communities through coordinated efforts by national agencies and local governments.
Launched in 2024 under the banner “Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” the program seeks to bring government services and assistance closer to communities through coordinated efforts by national agencies and local governments.
For the DA, the ₱4.3 B package brings several existing programs together in a single nationwide initiative. This approach allows government assistance to reach farmers, fisherfolk and other rural beneficiaries through multiple channels, from farm inputs and production support to market access and livelihood programs.
KADIWA ng Pangulo, for instance, connects farmers and producers with consumers and institutional buyers, while the indigenous peoples’ livelihood program provides assistance tailored to indigenous communities.
The scale of the rollout underscores the government’s continued use of direct assistance and market-linked programs to support agricultural communities.
The culmination brought these interventions into focus across participating local governments, with the DA among several agencies delivering programs and assistance under Handog ng Pangulo.
For the agriculture sector, the more significant measure will be whether the assistance translates into higher farm productivity, better market access, and more stable incomes for the beneficiaries.
