THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is negotiating for a higher budget for 2025 after learning that it could be given only P218 billion, an increase of less than P10 billion from this year’s allocation.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, who is also spokesperson for the department, said a slightly adjusted allocation for next year would impact not only the quality of food items but also the delivery of food products from one area to another.
The DA is seeking to more than double its expenditure plan to P513.81 billion from its current budget of P208.58 billion, mainly to construct more irrigation and postharvest facilities. It added a bigger budget was needed to address the lack of investments in the farm sector in the last four decades, resulting in the sector’s declining contribution to the economy.
The bulk of expenditures for 2025 — or P287.98 billion — would go to attached corporations, including the National Irrigation Administration, National Food Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, and the National Dairy Authority.
“But I was told that we’re not going to get it all so we’re still negotiating with DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” Agriculture Asis Perez said on the sidelines of a forum in Makati City on Monday, June 24.
“Of course, we want to lower the cost and improve the quality of our goods. Of course, if we have poor road conditions or limited road network, definitely it will have an impact on logistics, on movement, on the supply chain,” De Mesa said of the tight budget so far provided.
He said if that were to happen, they would “continue to lobby to Congress to receive additional funds” while exploring other options such as securing official development assistance funding.
Otherwise, “We will continue to pray for bigger budget for the department,” he said. (Jordeene B. Lagare © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
