MANILA -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has proposed to double the budget allocation for the National Rice Program in line with the government’s bid to ensure food security in the country.

As specified in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Marcos administration has significantly increased the allocation for rice production through the National Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture from P15.8 billion in 2022 to P30.5 billion in 2023.

“In our budget, we have provided a big amount for the National Rice Program. And this is for the expansion of fertilizer support for our farmers. Included dito ‘yung support for the mechanization of the industry. At the same time, while we provide social safety nets to our farmers, we will also increase funding on research and development and also on post-harvest facilities,” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said in an interview.

Secretary Pangandaman also noted that the budget allocation for vital agriculture programs, including the National Rice Program, follows the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework of the President to achieve the 8-point socioeconomic agenda, comprised of Food Security, Improved Transportation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Health Care, Social Services, Education, Bureaucratic Efficiency, and Sound Fiscal Management.

“Among the eight-point agenda, we have the four pillars, which include strengthening the purchasing power of peso. And to be able to do that, we need to increase our funding for the agriculture sector para magkaroon ng mas mababang presyo sa ating mga pamilihin at pagkain sa hapagkainan,” the Budget Secretary added.

“By increasing our farmers’ productivity, tataas din ‘yung output ng kanilang mga saka,” Secretary Pangandaman noted.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his Budget Message, emphasized that ensuring sufficient rice supply will help maintain the price of rice at affordable levels. The budget increase is due in large part to expanding fertilizer support to make fertilizers more accessible to rice farmers and minimize their production losses.

The agriculture sector is one of the budget toppers in the 2023 proposed national budget, with P184.1 billion, or a substantial increase of 39.2% from its 2022 allocation. (DBM)