The Department of Agriculture (DA) outlined its top priorities for 2026, focusing on fair palay prices, the expansion of the ₱20-per-kilo rice program, and the fast-tracking of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said these measures are vital to sustaining rice production, keeping food affordable, and improving farmers’ access to markets.
“The most urgent task is maintaining fair palay prices to keep rice farming profitable and secure our staple supply,” he noted.
To support farmers, the DA will continue National Food Authority procurement at ₱17 per kilo for wet palay and ₱21 per kilo for dry palay, while coordinating with stakeholders to prevent import surges from lowering farm-gate prices. A rice import freeze in 2025 capped imports at 3.5 million metric tons, down from 4.8 million tons in 2024.
The ₱20-per-kilo rice initiative under the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program will also be expanded to reach up to 15 million households, or about 60 million Filipinos. Tiu Laurel said the rollout requires sufficient buffer stocks, efficient logistics, and coordination with local governments.
Additionally, the DA will implement ₱33 billion worth of FMR projects, transferred from the Department of Public Works and Highways, to reduce post-harvest losses, lower transport costs, and boost rural development.
“Restarting these projects is a challenge, but we aim to complete them transparently, efficiently, and at high quality,” Tiu Laurel said.