Senate hears DA request for P68-billion farm aid package

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is seeking P68 billion in additional funding for fertilizer and fuel assistance to farmers and fisherfolk due to elevated fuel prices and a developing El Niño.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. told a Senate hearing on Wednesday that the funds requested form part of the P96.1 billion total funding needed to cover additional assistance for farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock raisers.

“We have available funds from our budget of P28 billion, including P8 billion from our 2025 savings. The additional funding needed is P68 billion, which in principle, has already been approved by the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) Committee,” Mr. Laurel said.

He said the Executive Secretary and the Department of Budget and Management have committed to finding a source for P45 billion out of the P68 billion needed.

Of the proposed P98.1 billion in total additional assistance, P69.6 billion will be allocated to fuel, while P26.5 billion will be earmarked for fertilizer.

The DA said P27.2 billion will assist rice producers, P17.7 billion corn growers, and P7.6 billion high-value crop farmers. It added that P22.8 billion will go to livestock, and P20.8 billion to fisheries.

Meanwhile, the DA said it is stepping up preparations for the developing El Niño later this year, building on lessons learned from the 2024 dry spell.

In a separate statement on Wednesday, the DA said it is working with regional offices and other agencies to assess vulnerabilities and deploy early interventions.

The DA said the National Irrigation Administration is assessing irrigation systems in major service areas, such as Magat and the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, to anticipate potential water shortages and adjust allocation schedules.

The DA added that the Philippine Rice Research Institute and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management have been tasked to guide farmers on planting decisions and water use in rainfed and seasonal farming areas.

“DA regional field offices are likewise reviewing local conditions using historical climate data and field validation to guide localized preparedness measures,” it added.

Inputs such as drought-tolerant seed varieties, fertilizer, and irrigation assistance have also been pre-positioned, the DA said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel