The Department of Agriculture (DA) is ramping up efforts to modernize agriculture and improve rural infrastructure, with plans to expand its “White Revolution” program while fast-tracking farm-to-market road (FMR) projects nationwide.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the White Revolution initiative focuses on controlled-environment agriculture, including greenhouses, organized food corridors, and improved post-harvest facilities to ensure a stable, year-round supply of vegetables and high-value crops.

The program also aims to protect food production from extreme weather events like El Niño and La Niña.

“The budget for greenhouses has been increased to help farmers cope with heavy rains and droughts,” Laurel said during a Palace press briefing on Thursday. “We need more of this atmosphere-controlled farming so that we can produce vegetables regardless of weather conditions. The full scale of the White Revolution will be in 2027.”

Laurel cited South Korea as a model, noting the country has around 50,000 hectares of greenhouse facilities, compared to about 500 hectares in the Philippines. The program’s name comes from the white plastic film used in greenhouses, the mulch and tunnels which helped revolutionize vegetable farming in South Korea decades ago.

Local preparations are underway for new infrastructure and equipment, with food corridors expected to be operational by the second half of 2026.

At the same time, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DA to ensure the swift and transparent completion of farm-to-market road projects, emphasizing accountability and efficiency in rural infrastructure development.

“First of all, my name and the name of our President are at stake here, and the President has been very clear: ‘Keep it clean, do it fast,’” Laurel said.

The directive comes as the DA’s budget was boosted to P215 billion under the P6.79-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act, reflecting the administration’s commitment to food security, rural development, and agricultural productivity.

Laurel stressed the DA will avoid past pitfalls seen in other infrastructure projects, particularly flood control, and will adopt project-specific cost assessments to ensure accuracy and value for money. Civil society groups and reputable private companies have been engaged to help monitor the projects, with all information made available to the public through an online portal.

“As of today, civil society groups are willing to sign a memorandum of agreement with us to help monitor these projects. Every Filipino can see what is happening with each road being built,” Laurel said.

With these combined initiatives, the DA aims to protect farmers, stabilize the food supply, and deliver infrastructure that will directly benefit rural communities across the country.