Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri is pushing for a higher 2026 budget for the Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippines (DAR), saying additional funding is crucial to sustain programs that directly benefit Filipino farmers.
During the Senate budget hearing, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III reported that from July 2022 to August 2025, DAR distributed more than 242,000 land titles covering over 305,000 hectares, benefiting around 232,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide. In the same period, the agency completed 213 irrigation projects and 344 farm-to-market roads, improving access to markets and productivity across rural communities.
Zubiri praised the DAR’s accomplishments, noting that the agency has shown effective performance in delivering tangible support to farmers. “I have my full trust and faith in the department. They are doing a great job right now. The people are very happy with their performance,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of public trust in government agencies. “In a time when there is so much distrust, animosity and anger of the people, I believe that with the Department of Agrarian Reform, that is not the case,” Zubiri added.
Zubiri cited the positive impact of farm-to-market road projects in his home province of Bukidnon, where 93 percent of surveyed farmers expressed satisfaction with DAR’s infrastructure efforts. “Napakalaki po ng tulong na dala ng mga programa at proyekto ng DAR sa ating mga agrarian reform beneficiaries,” he said in a Facebook post, stressing that better roads improve transport and boost farmers’ income.
DAR initially sought a ₱28-billion budget for 2026, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved only ₱17 billion. Zubiri said he plans to move for amendments in the Senate to restore or raise the amount, arguing that agrarian reform deserves stronger government investment.
“Itutulak natin na madagdagan pa ang budget nito—tungo sa mas malakas na sektor pang-agrikultura,” Zubiri said.
