The Marcos administration gives P197.84 billion to the agriculture sector in 2024

DSG | The Marcos administration gives P197.84 billion to the agriculture sector in 2024 | MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday that the Marcos government wants to give PHP197.84 billion more to the farm sector in 2024.

Under the 2024 National Expenditure Programme (NEP), the suggested money will go to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its different sub-programs.

The DBM said that the suggested budget is an increase of 6% over the current budget, which is PHP186.54 billion.

It said that the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AFF) sector grew by 2.2% in 2023 and made up 9.1% of the country’s gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year.

“Because of how much it has helped, the government is determined to increase the AFF’s budget for 2024, which will keep its growth on track.”

Safety with food

Amenah Pangandaman, secretary of the DBM, said that the 2024 budget plan would continue to fund programmes that help improve local production of rice, maize and other high-value crops.

The 2024 NEP called for the National Rice Programme to get PHP30.9 billion, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to get PHP10 billion, the National Corn Programme to get PHP5.3 billion, the National Livestock Programme to get PHP4.3 billion, and the National High-Value Crops Development Programme to get PHP1.9 billion.

For its Sugarcane Industry Development Programme, the Sugar Regulatory Administration, which is part of the DA, would get PHP1 billion.

The Marcos government also asked for PHP9 billion to buy 473,684 metric tonnes of palay through the National Food Authority’s Buffer Stocking Programme.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. will also get PHP4.5 billion for a programme that protects farmers and fishermen from losses caused by natural disasters, crop diseases, and bug infestations.

The Agricultural Credit Policy Council will get PHP2.8 billion to start the Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Programme. This is a flexible credit line that will help farmers and fishermen who are registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

Resources from nature

The DBM also talked about the government’s plan to improve the state of the country’s natural resources. It said that the National Soil Health Programme would get PHP916 million, and the Department of Science and Technology’s National Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Sector Research and Development (R&D) Programme would get PHP1 billion.

The Hatchery Production Programme (HatchPro), which is part of the Fisheries Biotechnology Research and Development Programme at the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, would get PHP70 million.

“Investing in agricultural infrastructure is needed to improve food systems and productivity for everyone, especially agricultural workers,” the DBM said, adding that the DA’s Farm-to-Market Road Programme would get PHP17.3 billion to build 1,144.58 km of roads.

Water safety and the development of fishing

The DBM said that the government gave the National Irrigation Administration PHP31.2 billion to create 31,548 hectares of irrigated agricultural land. This was done to deal with the lack of water.

The Water Supply and sewage Programme of the Local Water Utilities Administration will get PHP364 million to provide potable water and good sewage systems for Level III.

“They will also help with sanitation projects in areas where the Manila Bay Continuing Mandamus applies,” said the DBM.

It also said that PHP6.9 billion would go to the National Fisheries Programme to improve agri-fishery practises, product quality, and farmers’ and fishermen’s incomes.

The department also said that PHP4.9 billion would be given to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority to build, fix up, and improve fish ports all over the country.

It said that PHP211 million more would be given to the Boosting Aquaculture output Programme to meet the goal of a 10% increase in local fish output and make up for the lack of fish.(via PNA)