Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called on the Senate to support the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) appeal for additional funding for its 2026 budget to boost the country’s agricultural sector.

Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, made the call when he submitted the proposal during the period of amendments on the 2026 national budget on Tuesday, December 2, as he called on lawmakers to consider the DA’s additional budget requests.

“The DA’s additional proposal will ensure that the national budget prioritizes the needs of our agricultural sector: for our farmers, for our fishermen, and for our goal to ensure no Filipino would go hungry,” he said.

“These submissions outline the necessary adjustments to strengthen food security and support rural development. We request the body’s favorable review of these vital budgetary requests by the department itself,” he added. 

Among the additional funding that the DA is seeking is the P2.4-billion deep-water ports for the fish and agri-industrial production project of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority. 

He said the ports will improve fish landing, handling, and cold storage logistics in Occidental Mindoro, Zamboanga del Norte, and Albay to ensure a “more reliable access to affordable fish and other marine products.”

The DA is also requesting for a P500-million transition fund for the implementation of the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act for the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Dairy Authority. 

Another funding that the DA is pushing for is a P100-million budget for the Young Farmers Challenge Program of the DA-Office of the Secretary. 

The said program aims to expand grant assistance and capacity-building initiatives for young agripreneurs as the agency advocates for the development of the next generation of food producers. 

“Because the next generation of FIlipinos still need farmers,” Pangilinan said.

The senator also underscored the importance of recognizing the role of irrigation “in driving farm productivity and sustaining rural economic growth.”

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has also submitted its own requests for additional funding, such as P45-million for the temporary cofferdam of the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam in Bustos, Bulacan, P1.5-billion for the long-term replacement of the rubber bladder gates in the same project, P25-million for the learning and development for delivering excellent results program, and P22.4-million for the “Masaganang Ani sa Tagtuyot” double cropping system.