Leyte Farm Support Program Begins as Pilot for Nationwide Philippine Initiative

Tacloban City (Dec. 5, 2025) — The Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM) Program has officially kicked off in the First District of Leyte, thanks to Rep. FM Romualdez. This marks the beginning of a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and uplifting the lives of farmers.

This program is a collaborative effort involving several national government agencies. The Department of Agriculture (DA) is leading the charge, while the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is on board to assist agrarian reform beneficiaries. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is responsible for ensuring adequate irrigation, and the National Food Authority (NFA) will work to stabilize rice supply and prices. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is providing social support and coordinating assistance for beneficiaries.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is taking care of the technical and capacity-building aspects by offering training programs for farmers. The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is providing research and technical advice for rice production, and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) is helping with post-harvest facilities and farm mechanization.

Program coordinators emphasize that the collaboration among various agencies aims to create a smooth system for verification, distribution, and monitoring, ensuring that the implementation is both efficient and transparent.

Leyte was chosen as the primary pilot site due to its significant contribution to the agricultural output of Eastern Visayas. Officials have stated that once the operational systems are fully tested and fine-tuned, the FARM Program will be rolled out across the nation to support farmers everywhere.