MANILA, Philippines — To revitalize the country’s struggling agriculture sector, advocacy groups and lawmakers are pushing for a return of national government presence at the provincial and municipal levels, addressing a critical gap created by decades of decentralization.
During a Senate hearing on January 26, 2026, the Alyansa Agrikultura and Senator Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan underscored the need for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to go beyond regional offices and establish direct support systems for Local Government Units (LGUs).
The Breakdown of Extension Services The 1991 Local Government Code devolved agricultural extension services—the bridge between technology and farmers—from the national government to LGUs. However, the transition has been plagued by several issues:
- Lack of Expertise: Many LGUs were unprepared for the technical demands of agricultural extension.
- Misallocation of Personnel: Extension workers are often diverted to non-agricultural tasks.
- Lagging Exports: The impact is evident in regional comparisons. In 2024, the Philippines’ agricultural exports stood at $8 billion, dwarfed by Vietnam’s $62 billion and Thailand’s $52 billion, both of which maintain a “strong state” concept with centralized guidance at the local level.
Proposed Legislative Solutions Senator Pangilinan has sponsored two key bills aimed at addressing these structural weaknesses:
- Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (Pafea): This bill proposes a dedicated agency to professionalize extension services. Advocates argue that Pafea personnel must be physically stationed at the provincial level to ensure technology transfer reaches the grassroots.
- Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives: This initiative aims to foster clustering and consolidation. By creating local development hubs, the bureau would help small farmers achieve economies of scale and better market linkages.
The Principles of Reform The proposed reforms are built on two core principles of governance:
- Social Subsidiarity: Decisions and support should be provided at the lowest possible level where the needs of the people are best known.
- Strong State Concept: The national government must provide a unified, focused direction and tangible support rather than acting solely from a distance.
Public and Political Support Pangilinan’s advocacy comes as recent surveys show high public favorability for senators focusing on grassroots issues like agriculture, education, and good governance. His experience as a small farmer himself has shaped his focus on the dual problems of extension breakdown and the lack of farmer consolidation.
As the Senate deliberates these bills, the consensus among agricultural experts like Ernesto Ordoñez is clear: without a provision ensuring national DA personnel are present on the ground to support LGUs, the country’s agricultural transformation will remain stalled.