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MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has outlined its key priorities for 2026, focusing on stabilizing palay prices, expanding the ₱20-per-kilo rice program, and accelerating the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the initiatives are vital to sustaining local rice production, ensuring affordable food for consumers, and strengthening farmers’ access to markets.

“Our most urgent task is to maintain fair palay prices so rice farming remains profitable and our staple supply is secure,” Tiu Laurel said in a press statement on Thursday.

To protect farmers’ incomes, the DA will continue the National Food Authority’s palay procurement at ₱17 per kilo for wet palay and ₱21 per kilo for dry palay. The agency is also working closely with industry stakeholders to prevent import surges that could depress farm-gate prices.

In 2025, the government implemented a rice import freeze that limited total imports to 3.5 million metric tons, significantly lower than the 4.8 million metric tons recorded in 2024.

Another major thrust for 2026 is the full-scale implementation of the ₱20-per-kilo rice program under the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” initiative. The program aims to benefit up to 15 million households, or roughly 60 million Filipinos. According to Tiu Laurel, the expansion will depend on adequate buffer stocks, efficient logistics, and strong coordination with local government units.

The DA will also roll out ₱33 billion worth of farm-to-market road projects that were transferred from the Department of Public Works and Highways. These infrastructure projects are expected to reduce post-harvest losses, cut transport costs, and improve market access, ultimately boosting rural development and farmers’ incomes.

“Restarting these projects is challenging, but we are committed to completing them transparently, efficiently, and with high standards of quality,” Tiu Laurel said.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR