The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing to sustain growth in the country’s agriculture sector, but officials warn that reversing decades of underfunding would require roughly P400 billion to P500 billion each year.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the sector expanded by 3.1 percent in 2025 despite being hit by 23 storms, showing resilience under challenging conditions.
He pointed out that historical trends offer cautious optimism, noting that agriculture has grown more than 3 percent in eight of the past 20 years, with a peak growth of 5.4 percent recorded in 2007.
Sustaining growth in 2026, Tiu Laurel said, will hinge on making agriculture a viable investment area while addressing long-standing structural weaknesses.
Officials estimate that consistent annual funding over multiple administrations is needed to rebuild key institutions, enhance resilience to external shocks, and fully address gaps caused by years of underinvestment.
The current administration has already provided one of the largest agriculture budgets in recent memory, financing farm-to-market roads, warehouses, food hubs, post-harvest facilities, dryers, and a national coordination center for the sector.
Tiu Laurel emphasized that these investments are long-term in nature, aimed at strengthening the sector’s foundation rather than delivering immediate results.
He assured the public that the agency is committed to making the most of available resources to sustain growth and improve the sector’s overall performance.