The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking a higher budget with priorities focusing on diverse agricultural commodities starting next year.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said they are eyeing an additional 10 percent of the department’s current P155.56 budget.

“So, we're asking for at least 10 percent more than last year… Ang nilatag namin for next year is mas kaunti ang (What we have laid out for next year is a lower fund for) rice in general,” he said in a media interview on Monday.

He said it is time to “put emphasis” on other commodities like coconut, sugar, and high-value crops, among others.

“Well, we have to put priority on so many other agricultural sectors. As I said, everything is a priority. And medyo, for the last few years, sobrang laki na iyong nailagay natin sa rice or palay, na kailangan naman talaga (And somehow, for the last few years, we really placed a huge portion for rice and palay [unhusked rice], which was also needed),” Tiu Laurel said.

He, however, assured a separate and guaranteed PHP30 billion worth of tariff collections from imported rice for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

The amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) extended the implementation of the RCEF until 2031, with an increased funding of P30 billion per year from the previous P10 billion.

The DA earlier said of the P30 billion rice fund, around P15 billion is allocated for extension and training programs, financial assistance for rice farmers, credit, soil improvement, solar-powered irrigation systems, and water impounding projects, while P9 billion is for farm mechanization, and P6 billion for the provision of high-quality rice seeds.