To start selling P20/kg rice in storm-hit Masbate
The Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of its proposed P216.1 billion budget for 2026, up P39.4 billion or 22.3 percent from the 2025 allocation of P176.7 billion.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DA said the additional funds will bolster key agricultural infrastructure, expand crop insurance and boost productivity programs, particularly for high-impact commodities like coconut.
“This increased budget brings us closer to President Marcos’s vision of a food-secure Philippines—where agriculture is modern and investment-worthy, and farming is a viable, profitable venture,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
Rep. Anna York Bondoc of Pampanga, who defended the DA’s budget in plenary debates, said the higher allocation reflects the government’s recognition of agriculture as a critical pillar of the economy, employing nearly one in five Filipinos and contributing nearly 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
“These additional funds are a powerful testament of our recognition that our investment in agriculture is an investment into our shared future … It means direct support for hardworking farmers, better technology for our fisherfolk, and a more stable and resilient food supply for every Filipino family,” Bondoc added.
She noted, however, that House approval is only the first step and pledged to help shepherd the measure through the Senate and bicameral conference committee.
The DA said the increase stems from a larger realignment ordered by President Marcos, who redirected more than P250 billion from controversial flood-control projects toward agriculture, education and social welfare.
Of the P39.4 billion increase, P22.5 billion will go to the DA’s Office of the Secretary for flagship projects such as farm-to-market roads, cold storage facilities, and solar-powered irrigation systems.
The balance of P16.9 billion will fund coconut replanting, enhanced crop insurance, fish port upgrades, farm-to-mill roads in sugar areas, and modern post-harvest facilities.
P20/kg rice for Masbate
In a separate statement, the DA said the National Food Authority (NFA) has mobilized rice deliveries to Masbate to assist families hit by Severe Tropical Storm Opong. For one month starting September 30, rice will be sold at P20 per kilo to all households, capped at 30 kilos each.
The DA said the move is crucial as some 70,000 households were affected by the storm in Masbate, a province heavily reliant on agriculture, fisheries and livestock.
Beyond the rice subsidy, the DA reminded the public that a price freeze is in effect on basic agricultural goods after Masbate’s declaration of a state of calamity. The freeze covers rice, pork, poultry, eggs, fish, cooking oil, onions and garlic.
Violators face penalties under the Price Act, including fines and possible revocation of business permits, the agency warned.
