MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan welcomed the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) plan to expand its workforce by hiring around 23,000 licensed agriculturists, calling it a critical step to strengthen food security and boost long-term agricultural growth.

The senator, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, said the move addresses a long-standing need for trained agricultural professionals to provide hands-on guidance to farmers and fisherfolk.

“Ito’y matagal na natin panawagan kaya naman we welcome this move by the DA to hire more agriculture graduates because our farmers and fisherfolk need the expertise and hands-on guidance of trained agricultural professionals,” Pangilinan said.

He emphasized that deploying additional agriculturists across provinces and municipalities will help farmers access updated technologies, climate-resilient practices, and proper support to improve yields and profitability.

Pangilinan urged the DA to complement hiring with continuous training, sufficient field resources, and competitive compensation packages to attract and retain top talent. He also highlighted his legislative initiatives to renationalize extension services and strengthen agricultural cooperatives to empower rural communities.

“This is a welcome move, but it must come with sustained support,” he said, noting that providing the necessary tools and incentives is key to ensuring effective service delivery.