DA seeks faster approval of long-pending agricultural laws

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January 3, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging Congress to fast-track the passage of long-pending agricultural reform measures to address structural bottlenecks and revive growth in the farm sector.

In a statement on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said outdated laws governing key agriculture agencies have slowed decision-making and weakened the sector’s ability to respond to market conditions, prompting the need for urgent legislative action.

Tiu Laurel said Congress has already passed the Animal Industry and Competitiveness Act, which aims to modernize the livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries and provide P20 billion in annual funding over 10 years.

He added that proposed amendments to the Bureau of Plant Industry law are nearing completion to streamline operations, improve accountability and reduce regulatory delays.

The DA is also lining up amendments to commodity-specific laws covering rice, corn and coconut to strengthen value chains and raise farmer incomes, according to Tiu Laurel.

A key priority, he said, is the long-delayed implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund, or coco levy fund, amid expectations of sustained high global coconut prices.

“With global coconut prices expected to stay high in the coming years, further delays risk squandering a strategic advantage,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that delays could mean farmers losing out amid high global demand.

Beyond legislative measures, Tiu Laurel said reforms must also focus on strengthening agricultural extension services and expanding cooperative development to improve farmers’ access to credit, markets and support services.

The DA said the legislative push is being supported by increased investments in infrastructure, including the rollout of “Bagsakan ng Bayan” mega food hubs in Clark, Bukidnon, Quezon and other areas, as well as the construction of four mega cold storage facilities and around 60 modular cold storage facilities nationwide.

More than 140 post-harvest facilities built between 2023 and 2025 will support a hub-and-spoke system aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and stabilizing food prices, with additional facilities to be funded under the extended Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

The agency is also planning new deep-water agri-ports in Mindoro and Zamboanga del Norte, along with upgrades to a port in Albay. Tiu Laurel said P2.4 billion has been earmarked next year for port development, with nearly a dozen agri-port projects in the pipeline to reduce logistics costs and improve inter-island trade.

Tiu Laurel said the administration is broadening its agriculture strategy beyond rice to include sugar, coconut, corn, high-value crops, logistics and digitalization, as part of efforts to position the sector as a driver of economic growth.