Marcos assures farmers of faster access to support, training
Published Feb 12, 2026 01:55 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (RTVM)
Farmers in the country can expect faster access to technologies, training, and other support, President Marcos vowed on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Mahayag Dam Project in Zamboanga del Sur, Marcos assured farmers that the government will continue supporting them to improve their living conditions.
"Makaaasa po kayong patuloy ang administrasyong ito sa pagbibigay sa ating mga magsasaka ng mas mabilis na access sa ganiyang sari-saring teknolohiya, sa sari-saring pagsasanay, suporta pa para umangat at maging mas maginhawa pa ang inyong mga buhay (You can count on this administration to continue providing our farmers with faster access to various technologies, diverse training programs, and additional support to help improve and make your lives more comfortable and better)," Marcos said.
The President led the Mahayag Dam in Barangay Lower Salug Daku, Municipality of Mahayag, which has undergone rehabilitation after it was severely damaged due to severe flooding in late 2022 and early 2023.
According to Marcos, the rehabilitation of the dam "is a good example of the build, better, and more" program of the government.
"Kaya po ito’y magandang halimbawa sa ating sinasabi na 'Build, Better, and More.' Kaya po ay hindi lamang basta’t tinayo yung dati, kundi pinaganda pa, pinatibay pa, pinalaki pa (This is a good example of what we mean when we say, 'Build Better and More.' It’s not just about rebuilding what was there before, but improving it, strengthening it, and expanding it)," he said.
The rehabilitation of the dam, he further said, was one of the efforts to help farming communities in the country.
Marcos said the upgraded Mahayag Dam now provides efficient water diversion, improves irrigation reliability and agricultural productivity in the region, and enhances flood control and safety for homes and livelihoods in the province.
More than 3,100 farmers and their families stand to benefit from the dam, which regulates the flow of water in the Salug River and supplies irrigation to the nearby rice fields.
“Ibig sabihin, magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang suplay ng tubig. Hindi lamang mapararami ang inyong mga ani, mapapanatag din kayo na matutugunan ninyo ang araw-araw ninyong pangangailangan (It means the water supply will now be continuous. Not only will your harvests increase, you will also have peace of mind knowing that you can meet your daily needs),” Marcos said.
The President added that the dam also helps communities to be prepared and safe during the rainy season.
The Chief Executive also led the turnover of 20 solar-powered pump irrigation projects to 635 farmers in the region. It will boost the local irrigation system using alternative energy that is clean and affordable, he said.
P63-B fund for irrigation
More than P63 billion was allocated this year for the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) projects to expand agricultural infrastructure and provide modern equipment for farmers, Marcos said.
According to Marcos, nearly P300 billion was allocated for the various programs and projects of the agriculture sector this year.
"Ibig sabihin ay mas maraming imprastraktura at modernong makinarya para sa ating mga masisipag na magsasaka na inaasahan hindi lamang ng Zamboanga Peninsula kung hindi ng buong Pilipinas para sa ating tinatawag na food supply (It means more infrastructure and modern machinery for our hardworking farmers, who are relied upon not only by the Zamboanga Peninsula but by the entire Philippines for what we call our food supply)," the President said.
From the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA), more than P33 billion was allotted for the construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads for 2026, with P370 million allocated to farm-to-market roads in Zamboanga del Sur.
Almost P731 million was allotted to Small Scale Irrigation Projects, the President said.
The government, he said, has prioritized provinces that produce rice, corn, and high-value crops, and areas with concentration of farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
"Higit sa lahat, tinututukan natin ang mga rehiyon kung saan marami sa mga magsasaka ang higit na nangangailangan (Above all, we are focusing on the regions where many farmers are in greatest need)," Marcos added.