Senator Kiko Pangilinan backs the Department of Agriculture-led amendments of its 2026 budget as he expressed support for the agency’s push for additional funding to boost the country’s agricultural sector.
In his manifestations for the budget amendments for the fiscal year 2026, Pangilinan called for the need to consider the DA’s additional budget requests.
“The DA’s additional proposal will ensure that the national budget prioritizes the needs of our agricultural sector: para sa ating mga magsasaka, mga mangingisda, at para sa layunin na wala nang Pilipinong magugutom,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform and the vice chair of the Subcommittee J of the Senate Committee on Finance.
“These submissions outline the necessary adjustments to strengthen food security and support rural development.”
“These submissions outline the necessary adjustments to strengthen food security and support rural development. We request the body’s favorable review of these vital budgetary requests by the department itself,” the senator added.
Among the additional funding that the DA is seeking is for the P2.4-billion deep-water ports for the fish and agri-industrial production project of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority.
The ports will improve fish landing, handling, and cold storage logistics in Occidental Mindoro, Zamboanga del Norte, and Albay to ensure a “more reliable access to affordable fish and other marine products.”
Pangilinan also said that the DA is asking for a P500-million transition fund for the implementation of the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act for the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Dairy Authority.
Another funding that the agriculture department is pushing for is a P100-million budget for the Young Farmers Challenge Program of the DA-Office of the Secretary.
The program aims to expand grant assistance and capacity-building initiatives for young agripreneurs as the agency advocates for the development of the next generation of food producers.
“Dahil kinakailangan ng susunod na henerasyon ng Pilipino ay mayroon pa ring magsasaka.”
“Dahil kinakailangan ng susunod na henerasyon ng Pilipino ay mayroon pa ring magsasaka,” Pangilinan said.
Furthermore, he underscored the importance of recognizing the role of irrigation “in driving farm productivity and sustaining rural economic growth.”
The National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) has also submitted its own requests for additional funding, such as P45 million for the temporary cofferdam of the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam in Bustos, Bulacan, P1.5 billion for the long-term replacement of the rubber bladder gates in the same project, P25 million for the learning and development for delivering excellent results program, and P22.4 million for the “Masaganang Ani sa Tagtuyot” double cropping system.
Aside from the proposed additional funding by the DA and NIA, Pangilinan also submitted to the Senate’s consideration the budget requests from the judiciary and for the transparency measures that will be integrated into the DA’s and NIA’s projects.
