Senator Kiko Pangilinan is calling on the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to ensure full transparency in identifying and distributing agrarian reform beneficiaries, saying public accountability must go hand in hand with the government’s responsibility to empower Filipino farmers.
Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, led the budget deliberation for DAR.
“Sa panahon din ng matinding panawagan para sa pananagutan, iginigiit din natin na bawat pasilidad, negosyo, at benepisyaryo na suportado ng DAR ay madaling ma-verify: ma-geotag, bukas sa publiko ang mga kontrata at impormasyon, dumaan din sa independent inspection, at napapatunayang aktuwal at umiiral at gumagana,” the veteran legislator said in his opening statement.
“Hindi kikilalanin ang climate shocks ang katiwalian, kapabayaan, o mabagal na burukrasya.”
“Hindi kikilalanin ang climate shocks, ika nga, ang katiwalian, kapabayaan, o mabagal na burukrasya. Hindi rin mapapalitan ng imports ang matatag, matibay at magandang output at productivity ng magsasakang Pilipino,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The senator said he will press government agencies on the implementation of the full public transparency portal he secured as a special provision for agriculture-related agencies in last year’s national budget.
The portal is designed to strengthen transparency and accountability by providing geotagged project information, government contracts and procurement documents, independent quality-testing results, and a publicly accessible dashboard.
“Kaya dapat malinaw ang paninindigan ng panukalang 2027 budget ng DAR: bawat piso ay dapat may pakinabang, may resulta, at may pananagutan,” he stated.
“Dapat nitong tiyakin ang karapatan ng mga magsasaka sa lupa, palakasin ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries, at protektahan ang lokal na food production.”
“Dapat nitong tiyakin ang karapatan ng mga magsasaka sa lupa, palakasin ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries, at protektahan ang lokal na food production—lalo na ang nagbabadyang pagpapalakas—sabi nga nila, the worst ever—El Niño,” Pangilinan stressed.
Under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), DAR is mandated to redistribute public and private agricultural lands to landless farmers and farmworkers, provide free legal assistance to agrarian reform beneficiaries, and extend essential support such as infrastructure, irrigation, and credit assistance.
The program also provides for leasehold operations, the resolution and adjudication of agrarian disputes, and the promotion of rural enterprise development, farmers’ organizations, and technical training to help strengthen the livelihoods and productivity of agrarian reform beneficiaries.
In its proposed 2027 budget, the DAR is asking for P14.69 billion in appropriations, 13% lower than its allocation in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The proposed budget will provide P5.9 billion for the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Development and Sustainability, including P949 million for climate-resilient farm productivity support.
He said DAR must ensure that the program delivers its intended benefits to the farmers it is meant to serve.
“Tama ang direksyon. Subalit sapat ba ang mga pondong ito? Maganda ang pangalan ng programa, kailangan malinaw kung ano ang aktuwal na maihahatid ng climate-resilient farm productivity support para sa mga agrarian reform beneficiaries,” Pangilinan added.
“At ang resultang inaasahan natin, tunay na pag-unlad ng ating mga sakahan. Mas produktibo, mas matatag, at mas kumikita,” he concluded.
