'Progressive step': Marcos hailed for raising proposed DA budget in 2024
At A Glance
- The administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made a "progressive step" by increasing the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made a "progressive step" by increasing the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024.
Thus, said Magsasaka Party-list nominee Robert Nazal as he thanked the President and concurrent DA secretary for prioritizing the welfare of farmers and the agricultural sector.
“We applaud this progressive step, which aligns with our ongoing efforts to advocate for policies that uplift the lives of Filipino farmers, improve the quality of life in rural communities, and ensure a prosperous future for all,” he said in a statement Saturday, Aug. 12.
“The increased funding demonstrates a commendable commitment by the government to bolstering the agricultural sector, which plays a pivotal role in our economy and sustains the livelihoods of millions of hardworking farmers across the country,” Nazal said.
Under the 2024 NEP that is now being deliberated upon in the House of Representatives. the Marcos administration is seeking an allocation of P197.84 billion for the DA and its various sub-programs.
This is six percent higher than its current 2023 budget of P186.54 billion.
Looking at its components in the 2024 NEP, there is an allotment of P30.9 billion for the National Rice Program, P10 billion for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), P5.3 billion for the National Corn Program, P4.3 billion for the National Livestock Program, and P1.9 billion for the National High-Value Crops Development Program.
The administration is also asking a P9-billion budget for the National Food Authority’s (NFA) Buffer Stocking Program to procure 473,684 metric tons of palay (unhusked rice)
Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. will receive P4.5 billion for a program designed to safeguard farmers and fisherfolk from losses incurred due to natural disasters, crop diseases, and pest infestations.