The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has alloted P42.84 billion for agriculture as it vowed to help in boosting the country’s farm output in line with the Marcos administration’s plan of making the agriculture sector as one of the main drivers for growth and employment. In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said on Tuesday, March 14, that the P42.84 billion allotment is intended for the government's banner food security programs under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The funds, which fall under Department of Agriculture, will support programs for rice, corn, and livestock. It will also finance high-value crops development as well as promotion and development of organic, urban and peri-urban agriculture Pangandaman said these agriculture programs of President Marcos aim to address food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth through increased farm income and productivity. “President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has emphasized many times that agriculture is a top concern priority of his administration. Our 8-Point Socioeconomic agenda puts primacy on food security and agricultural output,” Pangandaman said. “As such, we have ensured that important programs which seek to increase farm income and productivity will get a much-needed boost,” she added. The National Rice Program (NRP), which is concerned with rice farming and uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers, has been allocated P30.30 billion under the 2023 national budget. This doubled the allocation for rice production through the NRP from only P15.78 billion in 2022. The National Corn Program, which aims to increase the production of quality corn and cassava for human consumption, feeds, and industrial uses, as well as empower farmers and increase their income, has a P5.02 billion budget this year. The National Livestock Program, which seeks to accelerate the development of the poultry and livestock sector by improving its production and increasing the stakeholders' profitability, has a P4.50 billion budget. A total of P1.80 billion has been allotted for the National High-Value Crops Development Program, implemented to help promote the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-value crops. The Promotion and Development of Organic Agriculture Program has a P900 million budget for 2023. The program aims to promote, propagate, further develop, and implement the practice of Organic Agriculture in the country. Lastly, the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program has been given P318.47 million under the 2023 GAA. This program shall promote urban and peri-urban agriculture and other emerging agriculture practices through the Plant, Plant, Plant program.