Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri on Friday expressed full support for increasing the 2026 budget of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), saying the agency has consistently delivered on its mandate to distribute land and empower Filipino farmers.
Speaking at the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on DAR’s proposed 2026 budget, Zubiri praised DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III for leading an agency that “earned the trust of the people” through efficient and transparent governance.
“I would like to move, Mr. Chairman, that we approve on the committee level the budget of the Agrarian Reform with additional funding, paglabas na po sa plenaryo,” Zubiri said, addressing Senator Win Gatchalian, the committee chair.
He added that at a time when public trust in institutions has waned, DAR stood out for maintaining credibility and goodwill among farmers.
“In a time when there are so much distrust, animosity, and anger of the people, I believe that with the (DAR), wala pong ganiyan. The people are very happy with their performance,” Zubiri said.
From July 2022 to August 2025, DAR distributed over 242,000 land titles covering 305,000 hectares, and released 401,000 debt condonation certificates, freeing 322,000 farmers from nearly ₱41 billion in land amortization. The agency also built 213 irrigation systems and 344 farm-to-market roads, which the 2024 COA survey credited for improving market access and increasing farmers’ income by 93.65% in Bukidnon.
For 2026, DAR proposed a ₱28-billion budget, but only ₱17 billion was approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), threatening key initiatives such as the parcelization of collective land titles.
Zubiri said this funding shortfall has already been felt by agrarian reform beneficiaries in Bukidnon, his home province, where many farmers are still waiting for their individual titles.
“We are all here trying to keep the country afloat. ‘Padayon’ sa Bisaya. Continue your good works that I have seen today in your performance because that’s the one that’s gonna carry us through these troubled times, troubled waters, in our ship of state,” he said.
“And of course, like any ship of state, kailangan ng grasa. Kailangan ng gasolina, ng krudo. Kailangan ng assistance para gumanda lalo ang performance ng ship of state.”
Zubiri noted that the government’s improved fiscal space this year should make it possible to realign more funds to high-performing departments like DAR. He thanked Senator Sherwin Gatchalian for identifying institutional amendments that could provide the necessary funding boost.
“And I am happy para kay Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, nakahanap siya ng konting pondo na maibibigay under what you call institutional amendments to help the departments like DAR’s programs,” he said. “So I am making this appeal, Sen. Sherwin, if I may make a standing motion that we approve it with an additional budget for the department.”
Zubiri also commended the agrarian reform communities for ensuring that government assistance directly benefits the farmers. He cited DAR’s farm-to-market road projects as tangible examples of success, particularly in Mindanao.
“Kaya money well spent ito, Mr. Chairman. Dagdagan natin ang pondo ng DAR kung pwede,” Zubiri said.
With his appeal, Zubiri underscored that sustained investment in agrarian reform is key to inclusive growth and rural empowerment, saying that when resources are spent wisely, “the returns go directly to the people who feed the nation.”