To start selling P20/kg rice in storm-hit MasbateThe Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of its proposed P216.1 billion budget for 2026, up P39.4 billion or 22.3 percent from the 2025 allocation of P176.7 billion. In a statement on Tuesday, the DA said the additional funds will bolster key agricultural infrastructure, expand crop insurance and boost productivity programs, particularly for high-impact commodities like coconut. “This increased budget brings us closer to President Marcos’s vision of a food-secure Philippines—where agriculture is modern and investment-worthy, and farming is a viable, profitable venture,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. P20/kg rice for MasbateIn a separate statement, the DA said the National Food Authority (NFA) has mobilized rice deliveries to Masbate to assist families hit by Severe Tropical Storm Opong. The DA said the move is crucial as some 70,000 households were affected by the storm in Masbate, a province heavily reliant on agriculture, fisheries and livestock.