Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said increasing funding for the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s digital agriculture program in the proposed 2026 national budget could help prevent corruption, including the emergence of “ghost farmers” and questionable projects, similar to issues flagged in recent flood-control infrastructure spending.
Pangilinan said the bicameral conference committee raised the allocation for digital agriculture to ₱600 million from ₱500 million, citing the need for stronger monitoring, transparency, and data-driven oversight in the agriculture sector.
The DA’s digital agriculture program covers the use of data systems, online platforms, and smart technologies for farmer and fisher registries, supply chain traceability, project monitoring, and planning. It also includes dashboards designed to give the agency real-time visibility over production, inputs, infrastructure projects, and risks.
Pangilinan said digitizing these systems would make it harder to divert funds or fabricate beneficiaries, arguing that public access to data and transparent processes are key safeguards against corruption.
He said digital tools can help ensure that subsidies, insurance, and other forms of government assistance reach legitimate farmers and fisherfolk, rather than fictitious beneficiaries.
According to Pangilinan, integrating digital systems into planning, procurement, extension services, market access, and enforcement would help ensure that increased budget allocations translate into measurable outcomes.
At the operational level, the DA’s digital initiatives include platforms such as e-Kadiwa or Kadiwa Online, which link farmers directly with consumers, as well as the use of drones, satellite imagery, and remote sensing for crop monitoring, yield forecasting, and disaster damage assessment.
While studies show that digital agriculture can improve productivity, climate resilience, and farmer incomes, Pangilinan noted that gaps in Internet connectivity, access to devices, and digital skills remain challenges, particularly for small farmers.
He said addressing these gaps would require expanded extension services, infrastructure investment, and stronger public-private partnerships.
Pangilinan said wider adoption of accessible digital tools is critical to improving food affordability and raising incomes in the agriculture sector, stressing the importance of systems that allow data and processes to be tracked and independently verified.
