The agriculture sector has always been a priority for the Philippine government given the role it plays in the economy. At the start of his term, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — who had promised to lower rice prices to P20 per kilo as a candidate — even assumed the portfolio as the country grappled with rising inflation.

Rice prices may still be far off from the promise but his successor, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., claims that gains have been made regarding overall productivity and, by extension, food security and economic growth. Allocations for the sector have been increased, with the Department of Agriculture's (DA) budget up some 31 percent this year to P208.

58 billion, compared to 2023's P158.16 billion allocated in 2023. Laurel, who was appointed in November last year, aims to more than double the current budget to P513.

81 billion. He said that this was needed to achieve the government's goal of modernizing the farm and fisheries sector and increasing food production. The agriculture chief, who often emphasizes the lack of investments in agriculture, has said that P93 billion would be needed alone for post-harvest facilities to reduce rice and corn wastage.

Another P1.2 trillion will be required, he also said, to irrigate an additional 1.2 million hectares to boost rice production and reduce imports.

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) said production and post-harvest facilities were being given better attention now compared to the previous y.